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ETAPHORS  AND  WORD-PLAYS 

IN 

Petronius 


SELECTIONS  FROM  THESIS 

Presented  to  the  Faculty  of  the  Graduate  School 

OF  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  Partial 

Fulfilment  of  the  Requirements  for  the 

Degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy 


BY 


James  Walker  Downer 


Bailor  University  Press 

Waco,  Texas 

1913 


Metaphors  and  Word-plays 

IN 

Petronius 


SELECTIONS  FROM  THESIS 

Presented  to  the  Faculty  of  the  Graduate  School 

OF  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  Partial 

Fulfilment  of  the  Requirements  for  the 

Degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy 


BY 

James  Walker  Downer 


Baylor  University  Press 

Waco,  Texas 

1913 


263984 


PA  (.SSi 


*:. 


PREFACE. 

The  text  of  the  Satirae  of  Petronius  used  is  that  of  F.  Buecheler, 
Fourth  Edition,  Berlin,  1904.  The  numbers  refer  to  the  chapter  and 
section.  In  the  longer  poems  the  second  number  refers  to  the  line 
of  the  poem. 

While  this  study  embraces  the  whole  range  of  figurative  language 
in  Petronius  with  some  consideration  of  proverbs,  slang  terms,  and 
rare  and  droll  expressions,  it  is  deemed  best  to  publish  only  selections 
from  the  metaphorical  usage,  in  which  the  most  striking  figures  are 
found.  All  other  figures  have  been  carefully  listed  and  filed  by  the 
writer. 

Metaphor  is  used  in  the  widest  possible  sense,  to  which  are  added 
some  word-plays  closely  akin  to  metaphors.  In  many  cases  other 
figures  may  be  seen  as  well  as  the  metaphor. 

An  attempt  has  been  made  to  group  the  metaphors  with  reference 
to  the  spheres  and  activities  from  which  they  are  taken.  In  cases 
of  uncertainty  and  of  small  number,  the  metaphors  have  been  put 
under  the  head  of  "Miscellaneous  and  Uncertain".  Each  group 
has  been  arranged  alphabetically. 

Some  word  that  suggests  the  figure  stands  first,  and  where  it  is 
necessary,  several  words  are  placed  first.  Sufficient  text  is  quoted  in 
each  case  to  give  the  full  force  of  the  metaphor  or  word-play.  Many 
repetitions  occur,  as  mixed  metaphors  are  so  common.  This  avoids 
referring  to  previous  passages  to  get  the  connection. 

No  bibliography  is  given,  as  few  works  on  Petronius  treat  the 
subject  of  the  figurative  language.  The  works  most  valuable  to  me 
in  my  study  of  the  subject  have  been  those  of  Buecheler,  Friedlaender, 
Waters,  Peck,  Lowe,  and  Ryan,  to  all  of  whom  I  make  general 
acknowledgment  of  my  indebtedness. 

I  wish  further  to  express  my  appreciation  of  the  helpful  suggestions 
and  sympathetic  encouragement  which  I  have  constantly  received  at 
the  hands  of  Professor  J.  C.  Rolfe,  Professor  W.  B.  McDaniel, 
Professor  Roland  G.  Kent,  and  Professor  G.  D.  Hadzsits,  of  the 
department  of  Latin  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 


CONTENTS 
I. 

MAN. 

A.  Mental  and  Moral  Nature  page 

1.  Gods  and  Religion „ 1 1 

2.  Mind  and  Feelings 12 

3.  Character  _ 1 4 

4.  Arts - - _ 14 

5 .  Music  „ 1 5 

B.  Physical  Conditions  and  Needs. 

1 .  Birth „ „ -. _._ _ ..15 

2.  Death 16 

3.  Sleep  „ „ _ _.- _- 17 

4.  Relationship 1 7 

5.  Body  and  its  Ailments 18 

6.  Food  and  Cooking. _ 20 

7.  Clothing  „ 23 

8.  Utensils 23 

C.  Public  Life. 

1 .  Law  and  Politics _ 24 

2.  War  and  Weapons 26 

3.  Punishment _ - 30 

4.  Slavery  „ „ 31 

D.  Business  Relations. 

1 .  Trade  and  Occupations 32 

2.  Money,  Minerals,  Etc „ 34 

3.  Commerce  and  Travel „ 36 

4.  Property 37 

E.  Amusements. 

1.  Circus  and  Horsemanship  38 

2.  Hunting  ....„._ - 39 

3.  Games  and  Gaming _ „ 39 

4.  Stage    _. 40 

5.  Gladiators 41 


F.    The  Senses.  page 

1.  Sight „ 41 

2.  Hearing _ 42 

3.  Touch    42 

4.  Smell „ 43 

5.  Taste - - 43 

11. 
NATURE. 

A.  Animal  Kingdom - _ 45 

B.  Soil  and  Vegetable  Kingdom - 52 

C.  Heat  and  Cold  _ _ - 54 

D.  Color,  Light  and  Shadow _ _ 57 

E.  Elements  and  Seasons 58 

F.  Water  and  the  Sea 60 

HI. 
EXPRESSIONS  OF  MOTION 64 

IV. 
PROPER  NAMES  68 

V. 
MISCELLANEOUS  AND  UNCERTAIN  71 

VI. 
OBSERVATIONS  AND  CONCLUSIONS 75 


I.     MAN 

A.     MENTAL  AND  MORAL  NATURE. 
1.    Gods  and  Religion. 

CAELO     .     .     .     INFERNOS.     Transfer   from  heaven   to  the  lower 
regions. 
Transfer    from    great    pleasure    to    extreme    wretchedness    in 
lust.     132.10:  hoc  de  te  merui,  ut  me  in  caelo  positum  ad  in- 
fernos traheres? 

CULTORES.    Worshipers. 

Devotees  in  love,  continued  in  religiosurn,  adorari,  and  templum. 
127.3:  te  rogo,  ne  fastidias  hominem  peregrinum  inter  cultores 
admittere.  invenies  religiosum,  si  te  adorari  permiseris.  et  ne 
me  indices  ad  hoc  templum  Amoris  gratis  accedere,  dono  tibi 
fratrum   meum. 

DEI.     We  are  not  gods. 

Of  men  being  liable  to  err.  75.1:  nemo  nostrum  non  peccat. 
homines  sumuSj  non  dei. 

DEORUM  BENEFiciA.    Kindness  of  the  gods. 

Of  memhrum  virile  and  the  other  private  parts.  140.13: 
at  ille  primo  exhorruit,  deinde  ut  plurimum  crederet,  utraque 
manu  deorum  beneficia  tractat. 

DiviNAM.     Divine,  a  god-send. 

Of  the  timely  coming  of  an  old  woman,  probably  slang.  7.2 : 
divinam  ego  putabam.  56.6:  apes  enim  ego  divinas  bestias 
puto  quae  mel  vomunt  (of  bees). 

HELICONEM.    Coming  to  the  home  of  Apollo  and  the  Muses. 

Of  great  success  in  writing  a  poem.  118.1 :  putavit  se  continuo 
in  Heliconem  venisse. 

lovis.     Occupying  the  throne  of  Jupiter. 

Of  attaining  great  success.  51.5:  hoc  facto  putabat  se  soleum 
lovis  tenere. 


12  Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius 


lOVEM.     Calling  on  Olympian  Jupiter. 

Of  resorting  to  extreme  measures  for  protection.  58.5 :  nee 
tibi  parsero,  licet  mehercules  lovem  Olympium  dames. 

LiBERUM.    Bacchus,  noted  for  his  freedom. 

Of  having  a  free  father,  continuing  the  word-play  in  Dionyse 
and  liber.  41.7  and  8:  Dionyse,  liber  esto  .  .  .  turn  Tri- 
malchio  rursus  adiecit:  "non  negabitis  me  habere  Liberum 
pat  rem. 

MARS.     Mars  likes  a  fair  deal. 

Of  each  one's  having  a  fair  show  at  dinner.  34.5 :  laudatus 
propter  elegantias  dominus  "aequum"  inquit  "Mars  amat" . 

MiNERVAE.    A  man  of  every  Minerva. 

Jack  of  all  trades,  of  lowness  in  lust.  43.8 :  immo  etiam  pullari- 
us  erat,  omnis  miner vae  homo. 

MUSAE.    A  slave  of  every  muse. 

Jack  of  all  trades,  of  many  attainments.  68.7:  idem  sutor  est, 
idem  cocus,  idem  pistor,  omnis  musae  mancipium. 

MERCURius.     Mercury  watching  one. 

Of  being  prosperous.  77.4:  interim  dum  Mercurius  vigilat, 
aedificavi  hanc  domum. 

NUMEN.     Hostile  divinity. 

Of  lack  of  passion  due  to  an  unknown  cause.  140.11:  sed  me 
numen  inimicum  ibi  quoque  invenit. 

PORTENTA.     Wonders  due  to  the  gods. 

Of  the  tricks  of  trained  pigs.  47.9:  putabam  .  .  .  porcos, 
sicut  in  cir cults  mos  est,  portenta  aliqua  facturos. 

SACRA.     Polluting  sacred  rites. 

Of  destroying  friendship,  continued  in  sacramentum  (80.4), 
80.3 :  neve  sanguine  mutuo  pollueremus  familiaritatis  clarissimae 
sacra. 

2.    Mind  and  Feelings. 

ARRiSERiT.     The  hour  of  fortune  smiling. 

Of  becoming  prosperous.  133.3:  et  quandoque  mihi  fortunae 
arriserit  hora,  non  sine  honore  tuum  patiar  decus  (cf.  Lucr.  2. 
32;  Cic.  Att.  13.21;  Hor.  Sat.  1.10.89). 


Metaphors  and  Word-plai)s  in  Petronius  13 


CALDiCEREBRius.     Hot-brained. 

Of  a  bad  temper.    45.5 :  et  noster  Titus  magnum  animum  habet 

et  est  caldicerebrius.     58.4:  nee  sum  natura  caldicerebrius   (cf. 

Hor.  Sat.  1.9.11). 
CEREBRUM.    Wine  going  to  the  brain. 

Of  getting  drunk.     41.12:  vinus  mihi  in  cerebrum  abiit.     47.6: 

credite  mihi,  anathy miosis  in  cerebrum  it   (vapor  arising  to  the 

brain,  of  the  bad  effects  of  constipation). 
CONSOLATIO.    Consolation  for  the  mind. 

Of  the  use  to  be  made  of  doctors.    42.5 :  medicus  enim  nihil  aliud 

est  quam  animi  consolatio. 
DELIRANTES.     Crazy. 

Of   the   artistic   taste   of    the    Greeks,    good-humored    ridicule. 

88.10:   noli  ergo   mirari,  si  pictura  defecit,   cum   omnibus  diis 

homnibusque  formosior  videatur  massa  auri,  quam  quicquid  Apel- 

les  Phidiasque,  Graeculi  delirantes,  fecerunt. 
FURERE.    Acting  the  madman  with  the  mad. 

Of  becoming  adapted  to  the  ideas  of  students.     3.2:  nihil  nimi- 

rum  in  his  exercitationibus  doctores  peccant,  qui  necesse  habent 

cum  insanientibus  furere. 
IRASCITUR.     Wind  angry  with  the  sea. 

Of  a  stormy  sea.     104.5 :  audio  enim  nan  licere  cuiquam  mortali- 

um  in  nave  neque  ungues  neque  capillos  deponere,  nisi  cum  pelago 

ventus  irascitur. 

PHANTASIA.    A  fancy  of  the  mind. 

In  praise  of  a  man,  probably  slang,  "a  dream".  38.15:  plus 
vini  sub  mensa  effundebatur,  quam  aliquis  in  cella  habet.  phan- 
tasia,  non  homo. 

QUERULO.    Complaining. 

Of  the  rippling  of  water.  131.8:  et  querulo  vexabat  rore  la- 
pillos. 

RESIPISCERENT.     Returning  to  the  senses. 

Of  regaining  manly  vigor.  138.7:  forsitan  rediret  hoc  corpus 
ad  vires  et  resipiscerent  partes  veneficio,  credo,  sopitae. 


14  Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius 


3.    Character. 

PUDICA.     Chaste  in  character. 

Of  purity  of  style.     2.6:  grandis  et  ut  ita  dicam  pudica  oratio 

non  est  /naculosa  nee  turgida. 
PUDOREM.     Assuming  modesty. 

Of  the  stomach  getting  right  again.     47.3 :  spero   tamen,  iam 

veterem  pudorem  sibi  imponet. 

4.    Arts. 

DELiNiRi.     Smearing  over  in  painting. 

Of    deceiving.      84.5 :    vellem,    tarn    innocens    esset   frugalitatis 

meae  hostis,  ut  deliniri  posset. 
EMINEANT     .     .     .     EXPRESSAE.     Terms  of  painting  or  sculpture. 

Of   ornament   in   speech.      118.5:   praeterea   curandum    est,   ne 

sententiae  emineant  extra  corpus  orationis  expressae. 
LEVIOR.     Smoothness  of  polished  bronze. 

Of  a  bald  head.     109.10:  et  nunc  levior  aere  vel  rotundo  horti 

tubere  quod  creavit  unda,  ridentes  fugis  et  times  puellas. 
LINUNT.    Trying  to  paint  two  walls. 

Of  shiftless  men  born  under  the  sign  of  the  twins.     39.7:  in 

geminis  nascuntur     .     .     .     et  qui  utrosque  parietes  linunt. 
MANUM.    Final  touch  of  the  hand  in  painting  or  sculpture. 

Of  finishing  a  piece  of  literary  work.     118.6:  tanquam  si  placet 

hie  impetus,  etiam  si  nondufn  recepit  ultimam  manum. 
PICTAM.     Painted. 

Of  embellished  language.     118.3:  controversiam  sententiolis  vi- 

brantibus  pictam. 
POLIAT.     Polishing  stone. 

Of  improving  morals.     5.3 :  prius  ?nores  frugalitatis  lege  poliat 

exacta. 

QUADRATA.     Squaring  stones  in  building. 

Of  proper  conditions  to  successful  attainment.  43.7:  facile  est 
autem,  ubi  omnia  quadrata  current.  39.8:  nam  cancer  et  hoc  et 
illoc  quadrat  (of  living  both  on  land  and  in  water). 


Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius  15 


REGULA.     Rule  for  lining  in  painting. 

Of  model  in  style.     2.7:  semelque  corrupta  regula  eloquentia 

stetit  et  obmutuit. 
TABULA.    Taking  the  hand  from  a  picture  in  finishing  it. 

Of  completing  one's  efforts  for  success.     76.9:  postquam  coepi 

plus  habere,  quam  tota  patria  mea  habet,  manum  de  tabula. 

5.    Music. 

BUCiNus.     Trumpeter. 

Of  a  cock  that  sounds  forth  an  ill  omen.  74.1  and  2:  haec 
dicente  eo  gallus  gallinaceus  cantavit.  qua  voce  confusus  Tri- 
malchio  vinum  sub  mensa  iussit  effundi  lucernamque  etiam  mero 
spargi.  immo  anulum  traiecit  in  dexteram  manum  et  "non  sine 
causa"  inquit  "hie  bucinus  signum  dedit." 

NENIAS.    Trifling  songs  (originally  funeral  songs). 

Of  the  whims  of  a  boy,  "changed  his  tune",  probably  slang. 
46.4:  invenit  tamen  alias  nenias. 

NUMERUM.     Of  every  measure. 

Of  the  many  good  qualities  of  a  favorite  slave.  63.3 :  ipsimi 
nostri  delicatus  decessit,  mehercules  margaritum  caccitus  et  om- 
nium numerum.  68.8 :  duo  tamen  vitia  habet,  quae  si  non  ha- 
beret,  esset  omnium  numerum. 

TUBiciNES.     Sending  for  the  trumpeters. 

Of  the  certain  coming  of  death.  129.7:  quod  si  idem  frigus 
genua  manusque  temptaverit  tuas,  licet  ad  tubicines  mittas. 


B.    PHYSICAL  CONDITIONS  AND  NEEDS. 

1.    Birth. 

CONCIPERE     .     .     .     EDERE  PARTUM.     Conception  and  birth. 

Of  the  mind  thinking  out  a  poem.     118.3:  neque  concipere  aut 
edere  partum  mens  potest  nisi  ingenti  flumine  literarum  inundata. 


16  Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius 

LABORAT     ...     IN  FINE.     Final  effort  in  child-birth. 

Of  the  struggle  for  the  completion  of  a  poem.  115.4:  sinite  me 
sententiam  explere;  laborat  carmen  in  fine. 

NATUS  EST.     No  one  of  us  is  born  solid. 

Of  the  necessity  for  every  one  to  go  to  stool.  47.4:  nemo  nostrum 
solide  natus  est. 

PARIT.     A  snake  does  not  give  birth  to  a  rope. 

Like  produces  like,  of  children  being  like  their  parents.  45.9: 
colubra  restem  non  parit. 

2.     Death. 

ANIMAM.     Breathing  out  one's  life. 

Of  great  fright,  continued  in  mortui.  62.10:  ut  larua  intravi, 
paene  ani?nam  ebullivi,  sudor  mihi  per  bifurcum  volabat,  oculi 
mortui,  vix  unquam  refectus  sum. 

EFFLAVERAT.     Breathing  one's  last. 

Of  ending  a  talk.  49.1 :  nondum  efflaverat  omnia  cum  reposi- 
torium  cum  sue  ingenti  mensam  occupavit. 

EXPIRABO.     Expiring  in  death. 

Of  the  dread  of  a  bath.  72.5 :  ego  enim  si  videro  balneum,  statim 
expirabo. 

FUNERATA.    Manly  parts  buried. 

Of  the  inactivity  of  membrum  virile.  129.1 :  funerata  est  ilia 
pars  corporis;  qua  quondam  Achilles  eram. 

MORITUR.     A  trade  never  dies. 

Of  the  certainty  of  making  a  living  by  a  trade.  46.8:  et  arti- 
ficium  nunquam  moritur. 

MORI.     Dying. 

Of  intense  fright.     62.8:  qui  mori  timore,  nisi  ego? 

MORTUO.     Scarcely  ever  dead. 

Of  a  watchful  eye.  68.8 :  ideo  nihil  tacet,  vix  oculo  mortuo  un- 
quam (cf.  62.10). 


Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius  17 


MORiENTiA.    Dying. 

Of  subsiding  waters.  122.133:  nee  vaga  passim  flumina  per 
notas  ibant  morientia  ripas. 

PARENTAT.    No  One  makes  this  offering  by  sacrifice  to  the  dead. 

Of  giving  praise,  since  the  dead  do  not  know  about  it.  69.2 : 
nihil  sibi  defraudit,  et  mehercules  laudo  ilium;  hoc  enim  nemo 
parent  at. 

PERIRE.     Perishing  by  death. 

Of  extreme  hunger.  69.7 :  et  haec  quidem  tolerabilia  erant,  si 
non  fericulum  longe  monstrosius  effecisset,  ut  vel  fame  perire 
mallemus.  79.8 :  valete,  curae  mortalis.  ego  sic  perire  coepi 
(of  complete  gratification  in  sexual  intercourse). 

ROGUM.     Funeral  pile. 

Of  a  mass  of  metal  statues  to  be  melted.  50.5 :  omnes  statuas 
aeneas  et  aureas  et  argenteas  in  unum  rogum  congessit  et  eas 
incendit. 

3.     Sleep. 

DORMiissE.    Sleeping  together. 

Of  having  similar  thoughts.     104.2:  putes  una  nos  dormiisse. 
SOMNIORUM.    Interpretation  of  dreams. 

Of  nonsensical  opinions.     10.1:  an  videlicet  audirem  sententias,  id 

est  vitrea  fracta  et  somniorum  interpretamentaf 
SOMNO.    Rome  lying  in  sleep. 

Of  her  indifference  to  her  condition,  continued  in  excita,  line  60. 

119.58:  Romam  somnoque  iacentem. 
SOPITAE.     Lulled  to  sleep. 

Of  the  lack  of  manly  vigor  in  lust.     138.7:  forsitan  rediret  hoc 

corpus  ad  vires  et  resipiscerent  partes  veneficio,  credo,  sopitae. 

4.    Relationship. 

FiLio.     Son  of  the  earth. 

In  derision  of  a  man,  "son  of  a  gun".  43.5 :  et  ille  stips,  dum 
fratri  suo  irascitur,  nescio  cui  terrae  filio  patrimonium  elegavit. 


18  Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius 

lUNGEREM.     Uniting  sleep  with  death  in  marriage. 

Of  killing  two  persons  while  asleep.  79.10:  ego  dubitavi,  an 
utrumque  traicerem  gladio  somnumque  morti  iungerem. 

NOVERCA.     Stepmother. 

Identified  with  Rome,  held  position  of  our  mother-in-law,  de- 
ceitful promoter.  122.166:  mercedibus  emptae  ac  viles  operae, 
quorum  est  mea  Roma  noverca. 

ORBATA.     Bereft  of  children. 

Of  water  being  deprived  of  birds.  119.37:  iarii  Phasidos  undo 
orbata  est  avibus. 

SOROR.    Sister  of  a  good  mind. 

Of  poverty  being  favorable  to  mental  development.  84.4:  nescio 
quo  modo  bonae  mentis  soror  est  paupertas. 

5.      Body  and  Ailments. 

BiLEM.    Bile  of  the  stomach. 

Of  anger,  has  force  in  this  droll  connection.  90.6:  immo  si 
eiuras  hodiernam  bilem,  una  cenabimus. 

BUCCAE.     Of  hard  cheek. 

Full  of  wind^  bombastic,  "he  blows  a  lot".  43.3 :  durae  buccae 
fuit,  linguosus,  discordia,  non  homo. 

CANCER.     A  wasting  disease. 

Of  love  and  its  effects.     42.7:  sed  antiquus  amor  cancer  est. 

CORPUS.     Weakening  and  decline  of  the  body. 

Of  the  lack  of  oratory.  2.2 :  effecistis,  ut  corpus  orationis  ener- 
varetur  et  caderet. 

COLEOS.     Manly  parts. 

Of  courage,  "spunk",  probably  slang.  44.14:  sed  si  nos  coleos 
haberemus,  non  tantum  sibi  placeret. 

CALVAE.      Bald. 

Of  round  nuts,  only  here  as  a  noun.  66.4 :  circa  cicer  et  lupinutn, 
calvae  arbitratu  et  ?nala  singula. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plai)s  in  Petronius  19 


coNVALESCENTEM.    Regaining  health. 

Of  fire  burning  up  more  brightly.     136.2:  ignemque  modo  con- 

valescentem  restinguit. 
DETUMESCUNT.    Vanishing  of  a  swelling. 

Of  the  subsiding  of  anger.     109.5:  exhortantibus  universis  odia 

detumescunt   (cf.  Amm.   15.8.7). 
EXULCERATAE.    Ulcerated  sores. 

Of  troubled  minds,  continued  in  sanitatem.     111.8:  quibus  exul- 

ceratae  mentes  ad  sanitatem  vocantur. 
MORBOSUS.     Having  a  disease. 

Of  a  boy's  craze  for  birds.    46.3  :  ingeniosus  est     .     .     .     etiani 

si  in  aves  morbosus  est.     90.3 :  rogo  quid  tibi  vis  cum  isto  morbo 

(of  the  habit  of  writing  poetry)  ? 
MANUS.     Rubbing  hands  on  bosom. 

Of   becoming   intimate   with   a   woman.      57.6:    contubernalem 

meam  redemi,  ne  quis  in  sinu  illius  manus  tergeret. 
NASO.    Life  being  in  the  nose. 

Of  great  fear,  "my  heart  was  in  my  mouth".    62.5 :  mihi  anima 

in  naso  esse. 

NAUSEAM.    Physical  nausea. 

Of  mental  disgust.     78.5:  ibat  res  ad  summam   nauseam    (cf. 

Hor.  Epod.  9.35;  Mart.  4.37.9). 
PARALYTICE.     Paralytic. 

Of  the  loss  of  manly  vigor.     131.11 :  quid  est,  paralyticef 
RECORREXiT.     Setting  the  ribs  right  again. 

Of  financial  success  after  misfortune.    43.4:  sed  recorrexit  castas 

illius  prima  vindemia. 
SCABITUDINEM.    Cure  of  an  irritating  disease  without  a  scar. 

Of  the  complete  loss  of  anger   (magister  refers  to  Aesculapius 

and  so  harmonizes  with  the  figure).    99.2:  tantum  omnem  scabi- 

tudinem  animo  tanquam  bonarum  artium   magister  deleret  sine 

cicatrice. 
STRANGULARETUR.      Choking. 

Of  smuggling  or  hiding.      15.5:   ceterum  apparebat  nihil  aliud 

queri  nisi  ut  semel  deposita  vestis  inter  praedones  strangularetur. 


20  Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius 

SUPERCILIUM.     Putting  on  the  brow  of. 

Of  assuming  the  air  of.  113.10:  nee  domini  supercilium  induebat, 
sed  amici  quaerebat  obsequium. 

TABES.    Wasting  disease. 

Of  the  degeneracy  at  Rome.  119.54:  sed  veluti  tabes  tacitis  con- 
cepta  meduUis  intra  membra  furens  curis  latrantibus  err  at  (cf. 
on  medullis  121.106). 

TUMORE.    Swelling  on  the  body. 

Of  bombastic  style  and  exaggeration  of  facts.  1.2:  nunc  et 
rerum  tumore  et  sententiarum  strepitu  hoc  tantum  proficiunt  (cf. 
Sen.  Ben.  2.11.5;  Quint.  12.10.73  and  2.10.7;  Gell,  2.23.21). 

TURGIDA.     Swelling. 

Of  bombastic  style.  2.6:  oratio  non  est  maculosa  nee  turgida 
(cf.  Hon  Sat.  1.10.36). 

VEXATA     .     .     .     iNHORRUi.    Symptoms  of  disease. 

Of  anxiety  for  another,  continued  in  medieinam  .  .  .  lenire, 
also  in  remedio  and  laboro.  17.7  and  8:  ipsa  quidem  ilia  nocte 
vexata  tarn  periculoso  inhorrui  frigore,  ut  terttanae  etiam  im- 
petum  timeam.  et  ideo  medieinam  somnio  petii  iussaque  sum  vos 
perquirere  atque  impetum  morbi  monstrata  subtilitate  lenire. 
sed  de  remedio  non  tam  valde  laboro. 

VULTUM.     Keeping  the  countenance. 

Of  the  inner  feelings.  80.9 :  cum  fortuna  manet,  vultum  ser- 
vatis,  amici. 

6.    Food  and  Cooking. 

ASELLUM.     Fish  and  ordinary  food. 

Of  the  best  and  the  inferior  in  sexual  intercourse.  24.7:  hodie 
enim  post  asellum  diaria  non  sumo. 

ANATINAM.    Duck's  meat. 

Of  any  light  diet  prescribed  by  doctors.  56.3 :  etiat7i  si  illos 
odi  pessime,  quod  mihi  iubent  saepe  onatinam  parari. 

CENARES.     Getting  a  dinner  on  the  front  step?. 

Of  leceiving  some  small  favor.  10.2:  mulio  ine  turpior  es  tu 
hereule,  qui  ut  foris  eenareSj  poetam  laudavisti. 


Metaphors  and  Word-pla^s  in  Petronius  21 


CIBARIA.     Food  for  ravens. 

In  abuse  of  a  man.  58.2:  quid  faciat,  crucis  off  la,  corvorum 
cibaria. 

CiBO.     Food,  the  necessity  of  life. 

Of  poetry  which  a  man  spouts  on  all  occasions.  90.6:  ceterum 
ne  tecum  quoque  habeam  rixandum,  toto  die  me  ab  hoc  cibo 
abstinebo   (cf.  96.4,  of  revenge). 

CONSUMIT.     Eating  food. 

Of  using  words.  33.3 :  interim  dum  ille  omnium  textorum  dicta 
inter  lusum  consumit,  gustantibus  adhuc  nobis  repositorium  alla- 
tum  est. 

COMEDi.    Eating  dog's  tongue,  a  plant,  metaphor  and  word  play. 

May  mean  here  a  Cynic's  tongue  (since  Cynics  were  called  dogs), 
and  so  the  eating  of  it  makes  one  have  a  Cynic's  love  of  truth. 
43.3 :  de  re  tamen  ego  verum  dicam,  qui  linguam  caninam  comedi; 
44.15^  iam  pannos  meos  comedi  (eating  one's  old  clothes,  of 
being  at  the  extremity  in  hunger  and  poverty). 

CONCOQUAS.     Boiling  together. 

Of  considering  in  mind.     75.6:  suadeo,  bonum  tuum  concoquas. 

82.5:  omnia  carnens  qui  timet  et  sicca  concoquit  ore  famem  (of 

enduring  hunger  (cf.  105.5;  Cic.  Q.  Fr.  3.9.5;  Liv.  4.15.7). 
ESURIT.     Physical  hunger. 

Of  longing  desire.     119.32:  praemia  corruptis  miles  vagus  esu- 

rit  armis. 
EXEDERAT.     Eating  up. 

Of  destroying  the  people  with  excessive  interest.    119.52:  plebem 

faenoris  illuvies  ususque  exederat  aeris. 

FERMENTUM.     YcaSt. 

Of  the  cause  of  a  rise  in  fortune.     76.7:  hoc  fuit  peculii  mei 
fermentum. 
HOLERA.    Looking  at  the  cabbage  and  picking  up  the  lard. 

Of  men  who  do  the  unexpected,  as  in  the  case  of  a  cross-eyed 
man.  39.11:  in  sagittario  strabones  (nascuntur),  qui  holera 
spectant,  lardum  tollunt. 


22  Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius 


lus.    Sauce. 

Of  the  best  part  of  a  dinner.  35.7 :  suadeo  .  .  cenemus;  hoc 
est  ius  cenae. 

LACTE.    Hen's  milk. 

Of  any  rarity.  38.1 :  lacte  gallinaceum  si  quaesierisj  invenies. 
71.1 :  et  servi  homines  sunt  et  aeque  unum  lactem  biberunt,  etiam 
si  illos  malus  fatus  oppressit  (drinking  one  and  the  same 
milk,  of  having  a  common  origin). 

MELLiTos.     Honeyed. 

For  the  pleasing  in  language,  in  a  contemptuous  sense,  1.3:  sed 
inellitos  verborum  globulos. 

OLLA.     The  pot  of  partners  boils  poorly. 

Of  having  too  many  in  any  project,  "too  many  cooks  spoil  the 
broth",  a  proverb.     38.13:  sociorum  olla  male  fervet. 

PANEM.     Has  bread  in  it. 

Of  a  trade's  being  practical.  46.7 :  habet  haec  res  panem.  58.3  : 
ita  satur  pane  fiam,  ut  ego  istud  conliberto  meo  dono  (being  filled 
v^^ith  bread,  of  doing  the  most  trivial  thing  in  proportion  to  the 
doing  of  the  thing  at  hand ) .  69.3  :  sed  face,  lingua,  dabo  panem 
(giving  bread,  of  treating  kindly). 

PASCUNT.     Feed  themselves. 

Of  taking  care  of  themselves,  "look  out  for  No.  1",  character- 
istic of  those  born  under  the  sign  of  the  bull.  39.6:  qui  se  ipsi 
pascunt. 

PIPER.     Pepper. 

Of  a  man,  "hot  stuff",  "warm  member".  44.6:  tunc  habitabat 
ad  arcum  veterem,  me  puero,  piper,  non  homo.  49.5 :  putes  ilium 
piper  et  cuminum  non  coniecisse  (had  never  dashed  pepper  and 
spice,  of  never  having  had  any  experience). 

PORCOS.     Pigs  already  roasted  walking  around. 

Of  every  thing  needful  being  at  hand.  45.4:  tu  si  aliubi  fueris, 
dices  hie  porcos  coctos  ambulare. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius  23 


7.  Clothing. 

FASCIAE.     Of  our  girth  or  girdle. 

Of  our  rank  or  circle.  46.1 :  non  es  nostrae  fasciae,  et  ideo 
pauperorum  verba  derides. 

INDUUNT.     Putting  clothes  on. 

Of  teaching  eloquence  to  boys  while  too  young.  4.2 :  et  eloquen- 
tiam,  qua  nihil  esse  mains  confitentur,  pueris  induunt  adhuc 
nascentibus. 

LANATOS.     Feet  of  the  gods  clothed  in  wool. 

Of  the  stealthy  and  unexpected  visitation  of  the  gods  to  ir- 
reverent people.  44.18:  itaque  dii  pedes  lanatos  habent,  quia  nos 
religiosi  non  sumus. 

MUNDUM.    The  dress  of  a  woman. 

The  cold  being  the  only  dress,  of  being  scantily  clad.    41.11 :  et 
mundum  frigus  habuimus.     vix  me  balneus  calfecit. 

SUCCINGE.    Girding  up  the  dress. 

Of  equipping  the  mind.     5.21 :  his  animum  bonis  succinge. 

VESTiARius.     Clothier. 

Of  the  benefit  of  a  hot  drink.  41.11:  vix  me  balneus  calfecit. 
tamen  calda  potio  vestiarius  est. 

8.  Utensils. 

INSTRUMENTA.     Implements  of  a  workman,  tools. 

Of  membrum  virile,  "tool",  130.4:  illud  unum  memento,  non 
me  sed  instrumenta  peccasse. 

LUCERNA.     Knights  on  a  lamp. 

Of  gladiators  of  little  value,  "tin  soldiers".  45.11 :  iam  meliores 
bestiarios  vidi.     occidit  de  lucerna  equites. 

MATELLA.     Chamber-pot. 

In  derision  of  a  woman,  "stink  pot".  45.8:  magis  ilia  matella 
digna  fuit  quam  taurus  iactaret. 


24  Metaphors  and  Word-pla^s  in  Petronius 


URCEATIM.    By  the  pitcher  full. 

Of  a  bountiful  rain.  44.18:  antea  stolatae  ibant  nudis  pedibus 
in  clivunij  passis  capillis,  mentibus  puris,  et  lovem  aquam  exora- 
bant.    itaque  statim  urceatim  plovebat:  aut  turn  aut  nunquam. 

VASUS.     Pot  of  clay. 

Of  a  man  in  derision.  57.8:  tu  lacticulosus,  nee  mu  nee  ma 
argutas,  vasus  fictilis. 


C.    PUBLIC  LIFE. 

1.      Law  and  Politics. 

ACCERSITO.     Summoning  a  person  to  court. 

Of  far-fetched  or  forced  talk.     139.3:  cumque  diu  mecum  esset 

locuta  et  me  accersito  sermone  lassasset,  ultimo  coepit  dicere. 
AMBiTiosus.    Ambition  of  a  candidate. 

Of  a  designing  rain-storm  of  tears.     1 7.3  :  ut  ergo  tarn  ambitiosus 

detumuit  imber,  retexit  superbum  pallio  caput. 
CAUSAM.     Pleading  a  case  at  law. 

Of   Caesar's   accomplishing  his   purposes   through   his   soldiers. 

122.169:  ite  mei  comites,  et  causam  dicite  ferro. 
DIEM.    Appearing  on  the  appointed  day  in  court. 

Of  making  one's  last  appearance,  dying.     61.9:  huius  contuber- 

nalis  ad  villam  supremum  diem  obiit. 
FERIAS.    Celebrating  a  legal  holiday. 

Of  rest  from  sexual  connection.     24.4:  Ascyltos  in  hoc  triclinio 

solus  ferias  agit. 
lUDiciUM.    The  court. 

Money  paid  to  the  public  officials,  the  only  court.     14.2:  ergo 

iudicium  nihil  est  nisi  publico  merces. 
INDICEM.     Informer. 

Of  a  rooster  that  tells  of  some  approaching  evil  by  crowing. 

74.3 :  itaque  quisquis  hunc  indicem  attulerit,  corollarium  accipiet. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius  25 

lUDici.    Committing  the  case  to  the  judge. 

Of  Giton  choosing  a  master,  continued  in  deliberavit,  pronuntia- 
tionCj  damnatus,  and  manus  (80.7).  80.6:  nihil  timui,  immo 
condicionem  praecipiti  festinatione  rapui  commisique  iudici  litem, 
qui  ne  deliberavit  quidein.  91.2:  eripe  me  latroni  cruento  et 
qualibet  saevitia  paenitentiam  iudicis  tui  puni  (Giton,  the  peni- 
tent judge  for  having  made  a  bad  decision).  91.7:  nee  amoris 
arbitrium  ad  iudicem  detuli  (of  the  same  incident).  122. 
174:  iudice  Fortuna  cadat  alea  (Fortune  as  judge,  continued  in 
causa,  1.  175). 

INIURIAM.     Enduring  injustice  at  the  law. 

Of  enduring  sexual  intercourse.  140.11 :  accessi  temptaturus,  an 
pater etur  iniuriam. 

LEGEM.    Law  in  matters  of  state. 

Of  being  unable  to  endure  sexual  intercourse.  25.3  :  nee  puellam 
eius  aetatis  esse,  ut  muliebris  patientiae  legem  posset  aceipere. 
(cf.  18.5). 

LiTiGO.     Having  a  suit  with  the  winds. 

Of  giving  one's  self  useless  trouble,  or  of  talking  to  one's  self. 
83.7 :  eece  autem,  ego  dum  eum  ventis  litigo,  intravit  senex.  132. 
13:  non  et  Ulixes  eum  eorde  litigat  suof  (Ulysses  having  a 
lawsuit  with  his  heart,  cited  to  justify  abuse  heaped  upon  an  in- 
active membrum  virile). 

MANUM     .     .     .     POENAS.     Putting  hands  on  and  suffering  punish- 
ment. 
Law  terms  in   an  obscene  sense.     8.4:   iam   ille  mihi  iniecerat 
manum,  et  nisi  valentior  fuissem,  dedissem  poenas. 

RE.    Taking  action  for  one's  case. 

Of  going  to  stool.  47.4:  itaque  si  quis  vestrum  voluerit  sua  re 
faeere,  non  est  quod  ilium  pudeatur.  66.3 :  et  eum  mea  re  facio, 
non  ploro. 

REUM.     A  criminal  confessing  his  guilt. 

Of  a  man  acknowledging  his  lack  of  manly  vigor.  130.2:  habes 
confitentem  reum :  quicquid  iusserisj  merui. 


26  Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius 


TESTIBUS.    Witnesses  in  court. 

Of  adhering  to  truth  in  writing  history.  118.6:  ut  potius  furen- 
tis  animi  vaticinatio  apparent  quam  religiosae  orationis  sub  testi- 
bus  fides. 

2.    War  and  Weapons. 

ARMA.    Soldier  and  his  weapons. 

Of  a  lustful  man  and  his  lustful  desire.  130.4:  paratus  miles 
arma  non  habui. 

CALIGAS.     Giving  one  soldier's  shoes. 

Of  giving  a  slave  promotion  for  his  tricks,  similar  to  "I  dub  you 
knight".    69.5  :  tanto  melior  Massa,  dono  tibi  caligas. 

CEPI.     Capturing  a  stronghold. 

Of  taking  the  brain  or  fancy.  76.1 :  dominus  in  domo  factus 
sum,  et  ecce  cepi  ipsirni  cerebellum. 

CICATRIX.    Scar  on  the  body. 

Scar  on  the  feelings.  91.6:  et  in  hoc  pectore,  cum  vulnus  ingens 
fueritj  cicatrix  non  est.  99.2:  scabitudinem  .  .  .  deleret 
sine  cicatrice.  113.8:  veritus  ne  inter  initio  coeuntis  gratiae  re- 
centem  cicatricem  rescinderet. 

coNFOSSis.    Pierced  with  wounds. 

Of  being  torn  up  by  trials.  26.7 :  sed  tot  vulnerihus  confossis  fuga 
magis  placebat. 

CONSIDIT     .     .     .     OBSIDET.     Encamping  before  and  laying  siege  to 
a  town. 
Of  encamping  before  and  laying  siege  to  a  person's  mind.    99.3 : 
similiter  in  pectoribus  ira  considit:  feras  quidem  mentes  obsidet. 

CONTUBERNALis.     Tent  Companion  in  war. 

Companion  in  marriage.  61.9:  huius  contubernalis  ad  villam 
supremum  diem  obiit. 

EXARMAVERAT.     Depriving  of  arms. 

Of  depriving  of  presence  of  mind.  105,7:  iam  Giton  mirabili 
forma  exarmaverat  nautas  (cf.  Plin.  Ep.  3.9.29). 


Metaphors  and  Word-plaps  in  Petronius  27 

EXPUGNARE.    Taking  by  storm  a  town. 

Of  overcoming  one's  persistence.  111.10:  deinde  refecta  potione 
et  cibo  expugnare  do/ninae  pertinaciam  coepit. 

FORTITER  FACERES.    Acting  bravely  in  war. 

Of  doing  the  bold  act  in  passion.  9.10:  qui  ne  turn  quidem,  cum 
fortiter  faceres,  cum  pura  muliere  pugnasti. 

FRANGi.     Breaking  down  the  wall  of  a  town. 

Of  breaking  down  one's  resistance  to  the  gratification  of 
passion.  111.13:  itaque  mulier  aliquot  dierum  abstinentia  sicca 
passa  est  frangi  pertinaciam  suam. 

GLADIUM.     Sword. 

Of  membrum  virile.  9.5 :  cum  ego  proclamarem,  gladium  strin- 
xit  et  "si  Lucretia  es"  inquit  "Tarquinium  invenisti". 

INDUTIAS.    Truce  in  war. 

Truce  in  quarrels.  18.5:  descendentes  ab  aure  capillos  meos 
lenta  manu  duxit  et  "facio"  inquit  "indutias  vobiscum" . 

INSIDIAS.     Ambush  in  war. 

Of  tricks  of  speech.  3.3  :  nee  enim  aliter  imperabant  quod  petunt, 
nisi  quasdam  insidias  auribus  fecerint. 

INVASIT.     Charging  in  battle. 

Of  caressing  in  passionate  love.  20.8 :  ac  ne  Giton  quidem  ultimo 
risum  tenuit,  utique  postquam  virguncula  cervicem  eius  invasit. 
85.6:  itaque  aggressus  simulantem  aliquot  basiolis  invasi  (making 
an  attack  with  kisses).  91.4:  praeclusis  deinde  foribus  invado 
pectus  amplexibus  (attacking  the  breast  with  embraces). 

lACTARE.      Hurling  weapons. 

Of  casting  slurs.  110.6:  ne  siliret  sine  fabulis  hilaritas,  multa  in 
muliebrem  levitatem  coepit  iactare.  114.1:  dum  haec  taliaque 
iactamus,  inhorruit  mare  nubesque  undique  adductae  obruere  tene- 
bris  diem  (of  spouting  out  words). 

lACULARi.     Hurling  weapons. 

Of  hurling  words  as  weapons.  109.8:  Eumolpus  et  ipse  vino 
solutus  dicta  voluit  in  calvos  stigmososque  iaculari. 


28  Metaphors  and  Word-plags  in  Petronius 

MANUBiAS.     Spoils  in  war. 

Of  spoils  in  general,  property.  79.12:  non  repugnavit  tile,  sed 
postquam  optima  fide  partiti  manubias  sumus,  "age"  inquit  "nunc 
et  puerum  dividamus  (continued  in  praeda,  80.1)." 

MILES.     Soldier  in  war. 

A  soldier  in  passionate  love  (s.  v.  arma). 

MILITABAT.     Doing  service  in  war. 

Of  doing  service  in  lustful  love.  24.7 :  haec  belle  eras  in  pro- 
mulside  libidinis  nostrae  militabat. 

PRAECISA.    Cutting  off  from  safety  in  war. 

Of  cutting  off  from  success  in  vengeance.  82.4:  immo  praecisa 
ultione  retro  ad  diversorium  tendo  (this  whole  chapter  is  a  de- 
scription of  a  man  being  defeated  in  battle,  applied  to  a  man 
failing  to  get  vengeance). 

PRAEDA.     Booty  in  war. 

Of  a  slave  boy  whom  two  men  claim,  prize.     80.1 :  iocari  puta- 

bam  discedentetn.     at  ille  parricidali  manu  strinxit  et  "non  frue- 

ris"  inquit  "hac  praeda  (s.  v.  manubias) ^ 
PRAEDATOR.    A  pillager  in  war. 

Of  a  ravisher  in  lust.     85.3 :  ne  quis  praedator  corporis  admit- 

teretur  in  domum. 
PROELIANDUM.    Battling  in  war. 

Of  making  opposition  to  another.    80.2 :  idem  ego  ex  altera  parte 

feci  et  intorto  circa  brachium   pallio   composui  ad  proeliandufn 

gradum. 
PUGNAVISTI.     Fighting  in  war. 

Of  fighting  in  lustful  love.    9.10:  qui  ne  turn  quidem     .     .     . 

cum  pura  muliere  pugnavisti  (s.  v.  fortiter  faceres). 

QUATIAT.     Brandishing  arms. 

Of  employing  the  oratory  of  Demosthenes.     5.14:  et  ingentis 

quatiat  Demosthenis  arma. 
REBELLAT.     Renewing  war. 

Of  the  renewed  raging  of  anger.     121.105:  nee  enim  minor  ira 

rebellai. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius  29 

REPUGNANTi.     Resisting  in  war. 

Of  resisting  in  lustful  love.  20.8:  et  non  repugnanti  puero  in- 
numerabilia  oscula  dedit.  79.12:  non  repugnavit  ille  (  of  oppos- 
ing in  general). 

SAUCIAE.    Wounded  by  weapons. 

Wounded  by  wine,  of  its  effects.  67.11:  interim  mulieres  sau- 
ciae  inter  se  riserunt  ebriaeque  iunxerunt  oscula. 

SPOLIUM.     Spoils  won  in  war. 

Spoils  stolen  by  a  beggar,  of  a  cloak.  13.1  :  et  tanquam  mendici 
spolium  etiam  fastidiose  venditabat.  14.6:  nostra  spolia  esse 
quae  illi  possiderent  (referring  to  the  same  cloak  as  in  13.1). 

VIBRARE.     Brandishing  of  weapons. 

Of  the  showy  effect  of  fine  opinions.  118.2:  credentes  facilius 
poema  extrui  posse  quam  controversiam  sententiolis  vibrantibus 
pictam. 

VINCITUR  VINCIT.     He  who  is  conquered  conquers. 

Of  failure  to  show  anger  being  the  best  way  to  win.  59.2 :  semper 
in  hac  re  qui  vincitur,  vincit.  111.10:  primum  ipsa  porrexit  ad 
humanitatem  invitantis  victam  manum  (a  hand  won  over).  111. 
13:  nee  minus  avide  replevit  se  cibo  quam  ancilla,  quae  prior 
victa  est  (conquered,  of  being  won  over  by  the  soldier  to  take 
food). 

VINCULUM.    Chains  binding  a  captive  in  war. 

Of  bonds  binding  friends  in  friendship.  114.12:  potior  ego  vin- 
culum extremuTU,  et  veluti  lecto  funebri  aptatus  expecto  mortem 
iam  non  molestam. 

VULNERABANT.     Inflicting  wounds  upon  the  body. 

Of  the  effect  of  kissing  on  the  feelings.  113.7:  omnia  me  oscula 
vulnerabant,  omnes  blanditiae ,  quascumque  mulier  libidinosa  fin- 
gebat. 

VULNERIBUS.    Wounds  in  the  body. 

Of  wounds  in  the  feelings  due  to  many  trials  and  hardships. 
26.7:  (s.  V.  confosis).  91.6:  cum  vulnus  ingens  fuerit  (s.  v. 
cicatrix). 


30  Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius 


3.     Punishment. 

COMPEDES.     Shackles  of  a  prisoner. 

The  ornaments  of  women  as  shackles  on  men  who  buy  them. 
67.7 :  notavit  haec  Trimalchio  iussitque  afferi  omnia  et  "videtis" 
inquit  "mulieris  compedes:  sic  nos  barcalae  despoliamur" . 

CRUCis.    Bit  of  a  cross. 

In  abuse  of  a  man,  "troublesome  piece".  58.2 :  quid  faciatj  cru- 
cis  off  la  (cf.  Plaut.  Pers.  5.2.17).  126.9:  nee  hoc  dii  sinant,  ut 
amplexus  meos  in  crucem  mittam  (sending  to  the  cross,  of  stoop- 
ing low  with  caresses). 

DiSTORTA.     Putting  a  slave  to  the  rack. 

Of  putting  the  mind  to  the  rack  to  produce  a  poem.  55.2:  sta- 
timque  codicillos  poposcit  et  non  diu  cogitatione  distorta  haec 
recitavit  (cf.  Sen.  Ep.  74). 

FURCIFERAE.    Gallows-bearer. 

Of  membrum  virile,  in  abuse  because  of  inactivity.  132.8:  sed 
furciferae  mortifero  timore  lusus  ad  verba,  magis  quae  poterant 
nocere,  fugi. 

PUNGEBAT.     Pricking  or  stinging  of  an  insect. 

Of  the  effect  on  the  feelings.  113.12:  me  nihil  magis  pungebat, 
quam  ne  Eumolpus  sensisset,  quicquid  illud  fuerat. 

SUGGILLARE.     Beating  black  and  blue. 

Of  taunting  one's  wretchedness  because  of  lack  of  manly  vigor, 
"rub  it  in  on  one."  128.2:  quaeso,  regina,  noli  suggillare  mise- 
rias.     veneficio  contactus  sum. 

TORMENTUM.     Instrument  of  torture. 

Of  pain  in  the  stomach  due  to  constipation  or  holding  in  wind. 
47.4:  ego  nullum  puto  tam  magnum  tormentum  esse  quam  con- 
tinere.  1 18.6:  sed  per  ambages  deorumque  ministeria  et  fabulosum 
sententiarum  tormentum  praecipitandus  est  liber  spiritus  (of  put- 
ting thoughts  to  the  rack  to  get  at  the  truth  of  history). 

UNGUIBUS.    Attacking  with  the  nails. 

Of  getting  angry  at  disappointment.  74.17:  recte  curabo,  me 
unguibus  quaeras.  et  ut  depraesentiarum  intelligas,  quid  tibi 
feceris:  Habinna,  nolo,  statuam  eius  in  monumento  meo  ponas. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius  31 


VERBERABAT.     Scourged  With  whips. 

Of  being  scourged  with  kisses.  26.5 :  et  me  tanquam  furtivis 
subinde  osculis  verberabat.  132.2:  rnanifestis  matrona  contumeliis 
verberata  tandem  ad  ultionem  decurrit  (of  being  harrassed  with 
insults). 

4.     Slavery. 

LIBEROS.     Not  even  the  hair  free. 

To  show  enslavement  by  debt.  38.12:  sestertium  suum  vidit 
decies,  sed  male  vacillavit.    non  puto  ilium  capillos  liberos  habere. 

MissiONEM.    Giving  freedom  to  a  slave. 

Of  giving  freedom  to  a  dish,  not  partaken  of  at  a  former  meal. 
66.7:  nam  pernae  missionem  dedimus. 

NOTAE.    Brand  on  a  slave. 

Brand  of  character  in  men,  in  good  sense.  116.5:  sin  autem  ur- 
banioris  notae  homines  sustinetis  semper  mentiri,  recta  ad  lucrum 
curritis.  126.7:  ex  hac  nota  domina  est  mea  (of  a  class  of  peo- 
ple). 132.12:  quam  ne  ad  cognitionem  quide?n  admittere  seve- 
rioris  notae  homines  solerent  (men  of  a  more  serious  nature). 

PILLEATUS.    Provided  with  a  cap  of  freedom. 

Of  a  wild  boar  not  eaten  at  a  former  dinner,  and  so  wearing  the 
cap  of  freedom.  40.3  :  secutum  est  hos  respositorium,  in  quo  positus 
erat  primae  magnitudinis  aper,  et  quidem  pilleatus  (also  in  41.1 ). 
66.7 :  ova  pilleata  (eggs  with  the  cap  of  freedom  on,  eggs  in  shell, 
part  of  a  bill  of  fare  at  dinner). 

STIGMAM.     Brand  on  slaves. 

Branded  by  disgrace.  45.9 :  itaque  quamdiu  vixeritj  habebit 
stigmam,  nee  illam  nisi  Orcus  delebit. 

SERVULUM.    A  little  slave. 

Of  a  devotee  to  oratory.  46.3 :  iam  quattuor  partis  dicit;  si  vixerit, 
habebis  ad  latus  servulum.  nam  quicquid  illi  vacat,  caput  de 
tabula  non  tollit. 


32  Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius 


viNDiCASSET.    Claiming  as  one's  slave. 

Of  the  claim  of  the  former  dinner  on  the  boar,  with  Ubertus  and 
dimissus,  continues  the  figure  in  pilleatus  (41.1).  41.4:  hie  aper, 
cum  heri  summa  cena  eum  vindicassetj  a  convivis  dimissus  est; 
itaque  hodie  tanquam  Ubertus  in  convivium  revertitur. 


D.    BUSINESS  RELATIONS. 


1.    Trade  and  Occupations. 

ACIA  ET  ACU.    Needle  and  thread. 

Of  minute  detail.  76.11:  hie  rnihi  dixit  etiam  ea,  quae  oblitus 
eram;  ab  aeia  et  aeu  mi  omnia  exposuit;  intestinas  meas  noverat. 

CONTEXTU.    Weaving. 

Of  a  succession  of  stories.  20.5 :  Ascyltos  iam  defieiente  fabu- 
larum  eontextu  "quid?  ego"  inquit  "non  sum  dignus  qui  bibamf" 

CENTONARius.    Maker  of  rag  covers  to  put  out  fire. 

Applied  to  Echion  w^ho  smothers  the  talk  of  Ganymedes.  45.1 : 
"oro  te"  inquit  Echion  centonarius  "melius  loquere". 

CLASSis.    Fleet  and  crew^. 

Of  a  number  of  slaves,  another  crew.  74.7 :  "abite,  ut  alii  veni- 
ant  ad  offieium."    subiit  igitur  alia  classis. 

EXONERATA.     Unloading. 

Of  getting  rid  of  Greek  influence.  5.16:  et  modo  Graio  exo- 
nerata  sono  mutet  suffusa  saporem.  103.5:  qui  acelinatus  lateri 
navis  exonerabat  stomachum  nausea  gravem  (of  vomiting).  107. 
13:  voluerunt  enim  antequam  eonscenderent,  exonerare  capita 
?nolesto  et  supervacuo  pondere  (of  shaving  the  head).  132.13: 
quid  autem  ego  mali  feci,  si  dolorem  meum  naturali  convicio  ex- 
oneravi  (of  getting  rid  of  sorrow^)  ? 

FiLO.    Of  good  thread. 

Of  the  cleverness  of  a  boy.    46.3 :  ingeniosus  est  et  bono  filo. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius  33 


FULLO.     A  fuller  who  wears  away  clothes. 

Of  a  bath  and  its  wearing  effects  on  an  infrequent  bather.  42.2 : 
ego  non  cotidie  lavor;  baliscus  enim  fullo  est. 

IMPUTEM.    Charging  up  to  an  account. 

Of  charging  up  to  heaven.  127.6:  habebo  tamen  quod  caelo 
imputem,  si  nos  fata  coniunxerint. 

INTEXUIT.    Weaving  by  winding  slender  threads. 

Of  the  construction  of  a  poem.  118.1:  nam  ut  quisque  versurn 
pedibus  instruxit  sensumque  teneriorem  verborum  ambitu  intexuit 
118.5:  ne  .  .  .  sed  intexto  vestibus  colore  niteant  (inter- 
weaving color  into  garments,  of  brilliant  style). 

LANIONES  ET  UNGUENTARii.     Butchers  and  ointment  dealers^  who 
weigh  their  wares. 
Of  men  born  under  the  sign  of  the  balance,  a  word-play.    39.1 1 : 
in  libra   (nascuntur)    laniones  et  unguentarii  et  quicunque  ali- 
quid  expediunt. 

MERCATOR.     Selling  and  a  buyer  of  merchandise. 

Applied  to  sexual  intercourse.  126.4:  sive  ergo  nobis  vendis 
quod  peto,  mercator  paratus  est,  sive  quod  humanius  est,  commo- 
das,  effice  ut  beneficium  debeamus. 

MiCARius.     Crumb-gatherer. 

Of  being  economical.  73,6:  hodie  servus  ?neus  barhatoriam  fecit, 
homo  praefjscini  frugi  et  micarius. 

MODio.     Measuring  money  by  the  peck. 

Of  having  a  large  amount.  37.3:  uxor  Trimalchionis  Fortunata 
appellatur,  quae  nummos  modio  metitur. 

NAVEM.     Ship  for  carrying  stone. 

Of  a  man  carrying  a  heavy  burden.  117.12:  quid  vos  iumen- 
tum  me  putatis  esse  aut  lapidariam  navemf 

NAVIGAT.     Sailing  with  a  favorable  breeze. 

Of  being  prosperous  in  business.  137.9:  quisquis  habet  nummos. 
secura  navigat  aura  fortunamque  suo  temperat  arbitrio. 


34  Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius 


NECTiT.     Weaving. 

Of  making  quarrels.  18.6:  nam  sane  et  sapiens  contemptus 
iurgia  nectit  (cf.  Ov.  Am.  2.2.35). 

NEGOTio.     Putting  out  of  business. 

Of  getting  the  better  of.  56.7:  ia?n  etiam  philosophos  de  nego- 
tio  deiciebat. 

ONERATAS.     Loading. 

Of  overdressing.  32.2 :  circaque  oneratas  veste  cervices  lati- 
claviam  immiserat  mappam  fimbriis  hinc  et  illinc  pendentibus 
90.4:  ego  quoque  sinum  meum  saxis  onerabo,  ut  quotiescunque 
coe peris  a  te  exire,  sanguinem  tibi  a  capite  mittam  (of  putting 
stones  in  the  pocket). 

RATIONEM.     Balancing  an  account. 

Of  making  up  a  quarrel.  10.7:  iam  enim  amoliri  cupie- 
bam  custodem  molestum,  ut  veterem  cum  Gitone  meo  rationem 
reducerem. 

STAMINATAS  Weaving  term,  stamen  without  subtemen,  warp  only. 
Of  wine  without  water.  41.12:  staminatas  duxi,  et  plane  matus 
sum. 

TEXTORUM.     Fabric  in  weaving. 

Of  the  kind  of  words  used.  33.3 :  interim  dum  ille  omnium  tex- 
torum  dicta  inter  lusum  consumit. 

VELis.     With  full  sails. 

Of  outstripping  another  completely.  45.11:  scias  oportet  plenis 
velis  vinciturum  (cf.  Plin.  Ep.  6.33.10). 

VENDIS.     Selling  merchandise. 

Of  a  woman  giving  sexual  privileges.  126 A:  sive  ergo  nobis 
vendis  quod  peto,  mercator  paratus  est.     (s.  v.  mercator). 

2.     Money,  Minerals,  Etc. 


AURi.     You  see  so  much  gold. 

Of  the  value  of  a  woman.     37.7:  tantum  auri  vides. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius  35 

ASSE.    Bread  bought  for  an  as. 

Of  a  large  amount  for  a  small  sum.  44.10:  asse  panem  quern 
emisisses  non  potuisses  cum  altera  devorare. 

DUPUNDii.     Of  the  value  of  two  asses. 

Of  insignificant  value.  58.4:  sed  cum  coepi,  matrem  meam  du- 
pundii  non  facio  (I  do  not  care  a  cent  for).  58.13:  nemo  du- 
pondii  evadit  (no  one  of  the  two  cent  variety  graduates).  74.15: 
et  ego  homo  dipundiarius,  sestertium  centies  accipere  potui  (of  a 
man  who  has  very  little  being  able  to  marry  money). 

FLATURAE.     Of  som€  Coinage. 

Of  the  physical  strength  and  training  oi  a  gladiator.  45.12: 
unus  alicuius  flaturae  Thraex. 

MARGARiTUM.     Pearl. 

Of  the  value  of  a  favorite  slave.  63.3 :  ipsimi  nostri  delicatus 
decessit,  ?nehercules  margaritum. 

PLUMBUM.    Lead  becoming  gold. 

Of  becoming  very  prosperous.  43.7:  plane  Fortunae  filius,  in 
manu  illius  plumbum  aurum  fiebat. 

REDDiDissEM.    Paying  back  money. 

Of  getting  even  in  a  quarrel,  "settle  with".  58.3 :  alioquin  iam 
tibi  depraesentiarum  reddidissem. 

REMUNERABAT.     Paying  back  money. 

Of  making  corresponding  movements  in  sexual  intercourse.  140. 
8:  ille  lente  parebat  imperio  puellaque  artificium  pari  moto  re- 
munerabat. 

RESPONDIT.     Paying  debts. 

Of  the  belly  performing  its  duties,  "paying  the  sheriff".  47.2 : 
ignoscite  mihi,  amici,  multis  iam  diebus  venter  mihi  non  respondit. 

SESTERTiARius,    Worth  a  sesterce. 

Of  a  sorry  fellow.  45.8:  Glyco  autem,  sestertiarius  homOj  dis- 
pensatorem  ad  bestias  dedit.  45.11:  dedit  gladiatores  sesterti- 
arios  iam  decrepitos,  quos  si  suff lasses,  cecidissent  (of  worthless 
gladiators). 


36  Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius 

THESAURUM.    A  treasure. 

Of  the  value  of  literature.     46.8:  litterae  thesaurum  est. 

VILITATE.     Cheapness  in  price. 

Of  bad  diction.  118.4:  refugiendum  est  ab  omni  verborum,  ut 
ita  dicam,  vilitate. 

3.     Commerce  and  Travel. 

ABUT.    Going  to  the  majority. 

Of  dying.  42.5 :  tamen  abiit  ad  plures.  medici  ilium  perdide- 
runt,  immo  magis  malus  fatus. 

aberrante.     Going  astray. 

Of  the  flying  up  of  a  woman's  dress.  67.13:  dumque  sic  cohae- 
rent,  Habinnas  furtim  consurrexit  pedesque  Fortunatae  cor- 
reptos  super  lectum  immisit.  "au  au"  ilia  proclamavit  aberrante 
tunica  super  genua. 

AMBAGES.    Roundabout  ways. 

Of  the  details  of  writing  history.     118.6:  sed  per  ambages     . 
.     .     praecipitandus  est  liber  spiritus. 

CANALE  ET  PEDALE.     Canal  and  footway. 

Hare  (canine  food)  and  sole  (fish)  were  brought,  pun  on 
sound  and  sense.    56.9:  canale  et  pedale:  lepus  et  solea  allata  est. 

DELATOS.     Borne  to  another  world. 

Of  being  ill  at  ease  in  the  forum.  1.2:  tantum  proficiunt,  ut 
cum  in  forum  venerint,  putent  se  in  alium  orbem  terrarum  de- 
lates. 

ERRANTis.    Roaming  about. 

Of  a  wretched  recitation  of  verses.  68.5 :  na7?i  praeter  errantis 
barbariae  aut  adiectum  aut  diminutum  clamorem  miscebat  Atella- 
nicos  versus,  ut  tunc  primum  me  etiam  Vergilius  offenderit.  79. 
8 :  haesimus  calentes  et  transfudimus  hinc  et  hinc  labellis  errantes 
animas  (of  lives  lost  in  lustful  love).  119.55:  tabes  .  .  . 
intra  membra  fur  ens  curis  latrantibus  errat  (of  disease  passing 
through  the  body). 


Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius  37 


viAM.    Road. 

Road  to  poetry,  continued  in  iretur  and  calcare.  118.5:  ceteri 
enim  aut  non  viderunt  viam,  qua  iretur  ad  carmen,  aut  visam 
timerunt  calcare.  88.7:  ubi  sapientiae  cultissima  via?  quis 
unquam  venit  in  templum  et  votum  fecit,  si  ad  eloquentiam 
pervenissetf 

4.     Property. 

BONA.     Goods,  property. 

Of  ineinhrum  virile.  105.11:  meruisse  quidem  contumeliam  ali- 
quam  fugitivos,  quibus  in  odium  bona  sua  venissent.  134.8:  narn 
neque  puero  neque  puellae  bona  sua  vendere  potest  (of  giving  sat- 
isfaction in  sexual  intercourse. 

DOMiciLiUM.    Habitation  of  the  living. 

Of  the  tomb  of  the  dead.  111.8:  omnium  eundem  esse  exitum  et 
idem  dojuicilium. 

FORTUNA.     Fortune. 

Of  membrum  virile.  92.10:  ac  domum  abduxit,  credo,  ut  tarn 
magna  fortuna  solus  uteretur. 

HABEBERis.     Holding  property. 

Of  being  held  in  esteem,  also  a  pun.  77.6:  assem  habeas,  assem 
valeas;  habes,  habeberis. 

PECULio.     Private  property. 

Of  membrum  virile.  8.3 :  prolatoque  peculio  coepit  rogare  stu- 
pru?n  (cf.  Plaut.  Ps.  4.7.92;  Most.  1.3.96). 

PERA.  Carrying  time  in  a  Cynic's  wallet,  as  If  a  precious  possession. 
Of  being  sparing  with  time.  14.2:  ipsi  qui  Cynica  traducunt 
tempora  pera,  non  nunquam  nummis  vendere  vera  solent. 

SARCINULAS.     Little  knapsacks. 

Of  scanty  property.  10.4:  itaque  communes  sarcinulas  partia- 
mur  ac  paupertatem  nostram  privatis  quaestibus  temptemus  ex- 
pellere. 


38  Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius 


E.    AMUSEMENTS. 

1.    The  Circus  and  Horsemanship. 

ANTECESSIT.    Runing  ahead  in  a  race. 

Of  the  mind  getting  ahead  of  the  manly  vigor  in  sexual  inter- 
course. 130.5:  forsitan  animus  antecessit  corporis  moram,  for- 
sitan  dum  omnia  concupisco,  voluntatem  tempore  consumpsi. 

CONTINERE.     Holding  a  horse  in  check. 

Of  holding  in  wind  in  the  stomach.  47.4:  ego  nullum  puto  tam 
magnum  tormentum  esse  quam  continere. 

CURRITIS.    Running  a  race  with  gain  as  the  goal. 

Of  securing  money.  116.5:  sin  autem  urbanioris  notae  homines 
sustinetis  semper  mentiri,  recta  ad  lucrum  curritis, 

CURSUM.     Race-course. 

Of  the  advance  in  letters,  continued  in  meatu.  5.17:  inter  dum 
suhducta  foro  det  pagina  cursum  et  fortuna  sonet  celeri  distincta 
meatu. 

EQUUM.     Changing  horses. 

Of  transfer  to  another  in  sexual  intercourse.  24.4:  ab  hac  voce 
equum  cinaedus  mutavit  transituque  ad  comitem  meum  facto 
clunibus  eum  basiisque  distrivit.  64.12:  non  moratus  ille  usus 
est  equo  manuque  plena  scapulas  eius  subinde  verberavit  (of  a 
man  in  a  game). 

EQUES.     Knight,  or  horseman. 

Of  a  lustful  man,  "trooper".  92.10:  nescio  quis  enim,  eques 
Romanus  ut  aiebant  infamis,  sua  veste  errantem  circumdedit  ac 
domum  abduxit. 

HABENAS.     Giving  reins. 

Of  freedom  in  literature.  5.13:  mox  et  Socratico  plenus  grege 
mittat  habenas  liber.  124.258:  quas  inter  Furor,  abruptis  ceu 
liber  habenis  sanguineum  late  tollit  caput  (reins  torn  away;  of 
unrestrained  devastation  in  war). 


Metaphors  and  Word-plags  in  Petronius  39 


INDOMITI.     Untamed,  of  a  horse. 

Unsurpassed   in   diction.      5.20:   grandiaque   indomtti   Ciceronis 

verba  minetur. 
META.     Turning  point  in  the  race  course. 

Of  dying.     94.8:   cum   reseratis  foribus  intrat  Eumolpus  cum 

Gitone  meaque  a  fatali  iam  meta  revocat  ad  lucem. 
PHALERis.     Trappings  of  a  horse. 

Of  the  dress  of  people,   continued   in  indomita.     55.6:  an   ut 

matrona  phaleris  pelagiis  tollat  pedes  indomita  in  strata  extraneof 
QUADRIGAE.     Already  my  chariots  have  run  their  last  race. 

My  sporting  days  are  over.     64.3 :  iam   quadrigae  meae  decu- 

currerunt,  ex  quo  podagricus  factus  sum. 

2.     Hunting. 

LEPOREM.     Starting  a  hare  for  others. 

Of  arousing  passion  for  others  to  get  the  benefit.     131.7:  vides, 

quod  aliis  leporem  excitavi. 
PERSEQUi.     Dog  chasing  a  hare. 

Of  the  noise  of  witches.     63.4:  subito  strigae  stridere  coeperunt; 

putares  canem  leporem  persequi. 
PLAGAS.     Falling  into  snares  for  catching  animals. 

Of  getting  into  trouble.     107.2:  nisi  forte  putatis  iuvenes  casu 

in  has  plagas  incidisse. 

3.     Games  and  Gaming. 

ALEA.    Fall  of  the  dice. 

Of  trusting  to  luck.    122.1 74 :  iudice  Fortuna  alea  cadat. 
COLLUDUNT.     Playing  together,  keeping  up  the  game. 

Of  having  a  secret  understanding  for  w^ronging  others.     44.3 : 

aediles   male   eveniat   qui   cum   pistoribus   colludunt   "serva   me, 

servabo  te". 
CALCULUS.  Draughtsman  on  the  chess-board  doing  a  moving  business. 

Of  the  changes  that  affect  friendship.     80.9:  calculus  in  tabula 

mobile  ducit  opus. 


40  Metaphors  and  Word-plags  in  Petronius 


LUDENTEM.     Playing. 

Of  lustful  pleasure.     11.2:  invenit  me  cum  fratre  ludentem. 
MICARE.    Playing  a  guessing  game  with  the  fingers  in  the  dark. 

Of  putting  confidence  in  a  reliable  man.     44.7:  sed  rectus,  sed 

certus,  amicus  amico,  cum  quo  audacter  posses  in  tenebris  micare 

(cf.  Cic.  Ofif.  3.19.77). 
POMPAM.     Parade  at  the  games. 

Of  a  showy  succession  of  courses  at  dinner,  continued  in  ludorum. 

60.5 :   avidius  ad  pompatn   inanus  porreximus,   et   repente   nova 

ludorum  remissio  hilaritatem  hie  refecit. 
Saturnalia.    Celebrating  the  Saturnalia,  when  no  business  was  done. 

Of  the  jaws  celebrating  a  holiday  when  there  was  little  to  eat; 

maxillae   (jaws)   refer  to  the  aediles,  the  grinds  of  the  people, 

a  word-play.    44.3 :  nam  isti  maiores  juaxillae  semper  Saturnalia 

agunt. 

4.     The  Stage. 

LUDITUR.     Play  on  the  stage. 

Of  the  doings  of  lovers.  95.1 :  dum  haec  fabula  inter  amantes 
luditur,  deversitor  cum  parte  cenulae  intervenit. 

ORCHESTRA.     Passing  from  the  orchestra,  the  seats  of  the  high,  to 
select  one  among  the  knights. 
Of  one's  choice  in   lustful   desire.      126.7:   usque  ah   orchestra 
quattuordecim  transilit  et  in  extrema  plebe  quaerit  quod  diligat. 

PANTOMIMI.     Chorus  of  a  pantomine. 

Of  the  songs  and  courses  in  a  dining-room.  31.7:  pantomimi 
chorum,  non  patris  familiae  triclinium  crederes. 

PLAUSUM.    Applause  of  the  theatre. 

Of  self-approval.  90.1 :  at  ille,  qui  plausum  ingenii  sui  noverat, 
operuit  caput  extraque  templum  profugit. 

SCAENAM.    Scene  on  the  stage. 

Of  an  incident  in  a  dinner.  33.5:  convertit  ad  hanc  scaenam 
Trimalchio  vultum.  80.9 :  grex  agit  in  scaena  mimum :  pater 
ille  vocatur,  filius  hie,  nomen  divitis  ille  tenet,  mox  ubi  riden- 
das  inclusit  pagina  partes,  vera  redit  fades,  dum  simulata  perit 
(a  series  of  stage  terms  in  a  description  of  life). 


Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius  41 

TRAGOEDIAM.     Completing  the  tragedy. 

Of  the  mimic  cutting  off  of  memhrum  virile.  108.11:  auda- 
cius  tamen  ille  tragoediam  implebat,  quia  sciebat  se  illam  habere 
novaculam,  qua  iam  sibi  cervicem  praeciderat.  140.6:  et  si 
non  servasset  integrant  simulationem,  periclitabatur  totam  paene 
tragoediam  evert  ere  (breaking  up  the  whole  tragedy;  of  disturb- 
ing sexual  intercourse). 

5.      Gladiators. 

DEBATTUERE.     Sparring  in  the  contests. 

Of  a  slave  paying  attention  to  his  mistress,  "beating  around". 
69.3 :  sic  me  salvum  habeatis,  ut  ego  sic  solebam  ipsumam  meam 
debattuere,  ut  etiam  dominus  suspicaretur. 

PRAECiNCTi.     Girded  up  for  gladiatorial  contest. 

Of  getting  ready  for  sexual  intercourse,  continued  in  paria,  de- 
pugnandum,  and  consisterem.  19.5:  et  praecincti  certe  altius 
eramus.  i?nmo  ego  sic  iam  composueram,  ut  si  depugnandum 
foret,  ipse  cum  Quartilla  consisterem. 

SCUTUM.     By  shield  and  by  legging. 

By  every  possible  way.  61.9:  itaque  per  scutum  per  ocream  egi 
aginavi,  quemadmodum  ad  illam  pervenirem. 


F.    THE  SENSES. 

1 .     Sight. 

EXCAECO.     Making  blind. 

Of  making  beauty  uncomely.  128.3  :  numquid  ab  aliquo  naturali 
vitio  formam  meam  excaeco?  141.5:  excaecabat  pecuniae  ingens 
fama  oculos  animosque  miserorum  (making  blind  the  minds  as 
well  as  the  eyes). 


42  Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius 


ocuLis.    Carrying  in  the  eyes. 

Of  being  a  favorite,  "the  apple  of  the  eye".  75.4:  non  est  dignus 
quern  in  oculis  feram? 

RESPiciAS.    Looking  behind  one. 

Of  seeing  one's  faults,  allusion  to  the  fable  of  the  two  sacks. 
57.7:  tu  autem  tarn  laboriosus  es,  ut  post  te  non  respicias  (cf. 
Ter.  Heaut.  60;  Hon  Sat.  2.3.299). 

2.     Hearing. 

STERTEIA.     Snorer. 

Of  a  crying  woman,  "snorter".  75.9:  tu  autem,  sterteia,  etiam- 
num  plorasf 

STREPITU.     Rattling  noise. 

Of  opinions  of  no  value.  1.2:  et  sententiarum  vanissimo  strepitu 
hoc  tantum  proficiunt.  119.40:  emptique  Quirites  ad  praedam 
strepitumque  lucri  suffragia  vertunt  (clink  of  money,  of  bribery 
among  voters). 

soNis.     Light  and  empty  sounds. 

Of  poor  oratory.  2.2 :  levibus  enim  atque  inanibus  sonis  ludi- 
bria  quaedam  excitando  effecistis,  ut  corpus  orationis  enervaretur 
et  caderet.  5.16:  et  modo  Grata  exonerata  sono  mutet  suffusa 
sapor  em  (a  musical  term  used  of  style). 

3.    Touch. 

ATTIGERIT.     Touching. 

Of  undertaking  the  task  of  writing  history.  118.6:  ecce  belli 
civilis  ingens  opus  quisquis  attigerit,  nisi  plenus  litteris,  sub  onere 
labetur. 

COMPREHENDENDAE.     Laying  hold  of. 

Of  selecting  material  for  history  in  verse.  118.6:  non  enim  res 
gestae  versibus  comprehendendae  sunt,  quod  longe  melius  his- 
torici  faciunt. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius  43 


PERFRiCATA.     Rubbing  the  forehead  to  remove  blushes. 

Of  putting  on  a  bold  front.  132.13:  mox  perfricata  diutius 
fronte  "quid  autem  ego"  inquam  "mali  feci,  si  dolorem  meum 
naturali  convicio  exoneravi"  (cf.  Cic.  Tusc.  3.18.41;  Quint.  11. 
3.160;  Mart.  11.27.7). 

TETiGi.    Touching  one's  self  up. 

Of  eating  honey.  66.3 :  itaque  de  scriblita  quidem  non  minimum 
edi,  de  melle  me  usque  tetigi.  76.8 :  quicquid  tangebam,  cresce- 
bat  tanquam  favus  (touching,  of  turning  one's  attention  to). 

4.  Smell. 

OLFECERiT.    Smelling. 

Of  detecting  a  poet.  93.3 :  nam  si  aliquis  ex  is,  qui  in  eodem 
synoecio  potant,  nomen  poetae  olfecerit,  totam  concitabit  viciniam. 

OLENT.     Smelling  around. 

Of  looking  out  for,  "nosing  around".  105.3  :  ad  summam,  adhuc 
patrimonii  met  reliquias  olent. 

PUTiDissiML     Offense  to  smell. 

Of  offense  in  general,  "stinking".  34.5:  obiter  et  putidissimi 
servi  minorem  nobis  aestum  frequentia  sua  facient.  73.2 :  ac  ne 
sic  quidem  putidissimam  eius  iactationem  licuit  effugere  (dis- 
gusting boasting). 

suBOLFACio.     Smelling. 

Of  having  a  suspicion  (harmonizes  with  epulum).  45.10:  sed 
subolfacio,  quod  nobis  epulu?n  daturus  est  Mammea,  binos  dena- 
rios  mihi  et  meis. 

5.  Taste. 

ACIDO.    Sharp  to  the  taste. 

Of  an  unpleasant  song.  31.6:  paratissimus  puer  non  minus  me 
acido  cantico  excepit.  56.6:  ideo  autem  pungunt,  quia  ubicun- 
que  dulce  est,  ibi  et  acidum  invenies  (of  bees  w^hich  produce 
honey  as  well  as  sting).  68.5:  nullus  sonus  unquam  acidior  per- 
cussit  aures  meas  (of  reciting  Vergil  badly). 


44  Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius 

DULCE.     (s.  V.  acido). 

CUSTARE.    Getting  a  taste. 

Of  acquiring  law  enough  for  home  use.  46.7 :  quia  volo  ilium 
ad  domusionetn  aliquid  de  iure  gustare.  71.1:  tamen  me  salvo 
cito  aquam  liberam  gustabunt  (tasting  free  water;  of  slaves  se- 
curing freedom   (cf.  Ov.  Am.  1.6.26). 

GUSTUM.    A  taste. 

Of  getting  a  little  sleep.  22.2 :  iam  ego  etiam  tot  malis  fatigatus 
minimum  veluti  gustum  hauseram  somni.  76.5 :  non  ?nehercules 
mi  haec  iactura  gusti  fuit  (the  whet  at  Roman  meals;  of  a  great 
loss  of  property  being  an  inspiration  to  securing  greater  gain). 

PROMULSIDE.    Relish  at  the  beginning  of  meals. 

Of  a  beginning  in  sexual  intercourse.     24.7 :  haec  belle  eras  in 

promulside  libidinis  nostrae  militabit. 
SAPORis.    Taste. 

Of  elegance  of  style.     3.1 :  quoniam  sermones  habes  non  publici 
saporis  (cf.  5.16,  Hearing,  s.  v.  sonis). 
SALIVAM.     Making  saliva  in  the  mouth. 

Of  the  effect  of  pleasing  food,  "making  the  mouth  water".  48.2 : 
deorem  beneficio  non  emo,  sed  nunc  quiquid  ad  salivam  facit,  in 
suburbano  nascitur. 

sucossi.    Juicy  and  appealing  to  the  taste. 

Of  being  very  rich.  38.6:  reliquos  autem  collibertos  eius  cave 
contemnas.    valde  sucossi  sunt. 


II.     NATURE 


1.    Animal  Kingdom. 

ABIGERET.     Driving  away  of  an  animal. 

Of  removing  hunger.  46.8 :  si  non  didicisset,  hodie  farnem  a 
labris  non  abigeret. 

AERUMNOSI.    Wretched,  having  a  hard  time. 

Of  those  born  under  the  sign  of  the  Capricorn.  39.12:  in  capri- 
corno  aerumnosi,  quibus  prae  mala  sua  cornua  nascuntur  (under 
the  Capricorn,  with  his  hard  horns,  are  born  those  who  have  a  hard 
time,  whose  hardiness  (horns)  develops  in  proportion  to  their 
ills). 

ARiETiLLi.    Like  a  ram. 

Of  men  being  born  under  the  sign  of  the  ram,  and  showing  the 
qualities  of  a  ram,  "rambunctious".  39.5 :  plurimi  hoc  signo 
scholastici  nascuntur  et  arieiilli  (probably  the  point  in  referring 
to  the  rhetoricians  is  that  they  use  the  qualities  of  a  ram  in 
managing  their  schools). 

ASINUM.     Striking  the  saddle  instead  of  the  ass. 

Of  taking  revenge  on  the  wrong  person  when  the  one  aimed  at 
cannot  be  reached  for  any  reason,  a  proverb.  45.8 :  sed  qui  asin- 
um  non  potest,  stratum  caedit.  63.2 :  na??i  et  ipse  vobis  rem  hor- 
ribilem  narrabo;  asinus  in  tegulis  (an  ass  on  a  house-top,  of 
something  unusual). 

ATROCx.    Attribute  of  a  wild  beast  with  stilo. 

Of  a  rigid  practice  in  composition.  4.3 :  ut  verba  atroci  stilo 
effoderent. 

BiGAE  ET  BOVES.    Pairs  of  horses  and  yokes  of  oxen. 

Of  men  born  under  the  sign  of  the  twins,  true  yoke-fellows. 
39.7 :  in  geminis  autem  nascuntur  bigae  et  boves. 


46  Metaphors  and  Word-vlags  in  Petronius 


BALATUM.     Bleating  of  a  sheep. 

Of  a  cry  due  to  punishment,  continuing  figure  in  vervex  (57.1). 

57.2:  ita  tutelam  huius  loci  habeam  propitiam,  ut  ego  si  secundum 

ilium  discumberem,  iam  illi  balatum  duxissem. 
BOVEM.    Tossing  an  angry  bull. 

Of   great   strength   in   a   man,   proverb.      63.5 :   poterat   bovem 

iratum  tollere. 
BUBULCi.    Ploughmen  who  work  oxen. 

Of  men  born  under  the  sign  of  the  bull,  bull-headed.     39.6 

(s.  V.  calcitrosi). 
CADAVERA.     Ravens  and  carcasses  tearing  and  being  torn. 

Of  cheaters  and  the  cheated.     116,9:  adibitis  oppidutn  tanquam 

in   pestilentia  compos,   in   quibus   nihil  aliud  est   nisi  cadavera, 

quae  lacerantur,  aut  corvi,  qui  lacerant. 
CALCEM.     Leaving  the  impression  of  the  heel. 

Of  completing  Greek  literature.     46.5 :  ceterum  iam  Graeculis 

c  ale  em  impingit. 
CALCITROSI.    Kicking  done  by  oxen  when  goaded. 

Of  stubborn  men  born  under  the  sign  of  the  bull,  "kickers". 

39.6:   deinde   totus   caelus   taurulus  fit.     itaque   tunc   calcitrosi 

nascuntur  et  bubulci  et  qui  se  ipsi  pascunt. 

CANis.     Dog. 

Of  a  man  in  abuse.     74.9:  ultimo  etiam  adiecit:  "canis". 

CAPO.     Rooster. 

Of  a  mannish  young  fellow,  continued  in  cocococo.  59.2:  et 
tu  cum  esses  capo,  cocococo,  atque  cor  non  habebas. 

CAPUT,     A  hard  head. 

Of  obstinate  men  born  under  the  sign  of  the  ram.  39.5 :  itaque 
quisquis  nascitur  illo  signo,  multa  pecora  habet,  multum  lanae, 
caput  praeterea  durum,  frontem  expudoratam,  cornum  acutum. 

CAPERENTUR,     Fish  biting  and  being  caught. 

Of  men  being  enticed  and  deceived.  140.15:  sicut  muta  ani- 
malia  cibo  inescantur,  sic  ho?nines  non  caperentur  nisi  spei  ali- 
quid  morderent. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius  47 

CARPIMUS.     Browsing  of  cattle. 

Of  continuing  a  journey,  browsing  along.  116,1:  hoc  peracto 
libenter  officio  destinaturn  carpimus  iter. 

CATAPHAGAE.      Gluttons. 

Of  men  born  under  the  lion  which  eats  ravenously,  a  word 
play.     39.9:  in  leone  cataphagae  nascuntur. 

CORNUM.     Sharp  horn. 

Courageous,  of  men  born  under  the  ram.     39.5 :  et  modo  fit 
aries.     itaque  quisquis  nascitur  illo  signo     .     .     .     habet 
.     cornum    acutum.      39.12:    in    capricorno    aerumnosi,    quibus 
prae  mala  sua  cornua  nascuntur  (horns;  of  hardiness  in  endur- 
ance, s.  V.  aerumnosi). 

CORNEOLUS.     Hardness  of  a  horn. 

Of  an  old  man's  endurance,  hardy.  43.7 :  sed  corneolus  fuit, 
aetatem  bene  ferebat. 

CORVi.     Ravens. 

Of  men   who  get  all   they  can   by  deception.      116.9    (s.   v. 
caperentur) . 

DENTES.     Teeth  of  an  animal. 

Of  the  effects  of  a  bath.  42.2:  aqua  denies  habet.  58.6:  recte, 
venies  sub  dent  em  (coming  under  the  teeth  of  an  animal,  of 
getting  at  one  for  punishment). 

DOMEFACTA.    Taming  of  an  animal. 

Of  getting  land  under  cultivation.  99.3 :  ast  ubi  aratro  dome- 
facta  tellus  nitet. 

DEVOLAT.     Flying. 

Of  great  haste.     105.8:  raptimque  ad  puerum  devolat. 

ERRAT.     Roaming  of  an  animal. 

Of  disease  passing  through  the  body.     119.55:  tabes     .     .     . 
intra  membra  furens  curis  latrantibus  errat. 

FRONTEM.     Shameless  brow,  characteristic  of  the  ram. 

Of  shameless  men  born  under  that  sign.  39.5 :  itaque  quisquis 
nascitur  illo  signo  .  .  .  habet  .  .  .  frontem  expudo- 
ratam. 


48  Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius 


GALLOS.     Barnyard  cocks. 

Of  worthless  gladiators.     45.11:  putares  eos  gallos  gallinaceos. 

HAMIS.     Hooks  for  fishing. 

Of  enticements  for  catching  men.  140.15:  unde  plani  autem, 
unde  levatores  viverentj  nisi  aut  locellos  aut  sonantes  aere  sacellos 
pro  hamis  in  turbam  mitterentf 

iMPERiosi.    Characteristic  of  the  lion,  the  king  of  beasts. 

Of  domineering  men  born  under  the  lion,  a  word  play.  39.9: 
in  leone     .     .     .     nascuntur  et  imperiosi. 

lUMENTUM.     Beast  of  burden. 

Of  a  man  complaining  of  his  heavy  load.  117.12:  quid  vos 
iumentum  me  putatisf 

LACERARA.    Tearing  to  pieces  by  a  wild  beast. 

Of  singing  a  song  poorly,  "murdering".  73.3  :  coepit  Menecratis 
cantica  lacerare,  sicut  illi  dicebant,  qui  Unguam  eius  intellege- 
hant.  100.4:  ceterum  eadem  indignatione  mulier  lacerata  ulte- 
rius  excanduit  (of  the  feelings  being  disturbed). 

LATRANTiBUS.    Barking  of  a  dog. 

Of  annoying  cares  that  make  one  bark.  119.55:  tabes  .  .  . 
intra  membra  furens  curis  latrantibus  errat. 

LEONES.    Lions. 

Of  leaders  bold  in  securing  the  rights  of  the  people.  44.4:  o  si 
haberemus  illos  leones,  quos  ego  hie  inveni,  cum  primum  ex  Asia 
veni.  44.14:  nunc  populus  est  domi  leones,  vulpes  foras  (of  men 
bold  when  at  home  and  out  of  danger,  sarcasm). 

MARCENT.     Becoming  weak,  of  an  animal. 

Of  the  destruction  of  the  walls  of  Rome.  55.6:  luxuriae  rictu 
Martis  marcent  moenia. 

MORDET.     Biting  of  an  animal. 

Of  the  bad  effect  of  the  high  price  of  grain  upon  the  people.  44. 
1:  cum  interim  nemo  curat  quid  annona  mordet.  140.15:  mor- 
derent  (s.  v.  caperentur) . 


Metaphors  and  Word-plags  in  Petronius  49 

MUGIENTEM.    Bellowing  of  an  animal. 

Of  a  man  reading  poetry.  115.5:  iubeoque  Gitona  accedere  et 
in  terram  trahere  poetam  mugientem. 

MiLViNUM.    Kite-like. 

Of  a  rapacious  woman.  42.7 :  sed  mulier  quae  mulier  milvinum 
genus  (cf.  Plaut.  Ps.  3.2.63).  75.6:  suadeo,  bonum  tuum  con- 
coquas,  milva  (kite,  of  a  woman  in  abuse). 

MURAENA  ET  LiTTERA.    Muraena,  a  fish,  and  a  letter. 

Names  on  which  puns  are  made  in  giving  out  the  presents.  56.9 : 
muraena  et  littera:  murem  cum  rana  alligata  fascemque  betae 
accepit  (he  receives  a  mouse  with  a  frog  tied  on  and  a  bundle  of 
beta's,  the  Greek  letter,  or  beets,  the  vegetable ;  the  first  is  a  pun 
on  sound,  the  second  on  sound  and  sense). 

MUS.     Mouse. 

Of  a  man  in  abuse.  58.4:  recte,  videbo  te  in  publicum,  mus. 
immo  terrae  tuber. 

MUSCARIUM.    A  flytrap. 

Used  to  make  a  pun.    56.9:  (v.  s.  passeres). 

OBSONATORES.    Caterers,  buyers  of  meats,  fish,  and  the  like. 

Of  those  born  under  the  sign  of  the  fish.  39.12:  in  piscibus 
obsonatores  et  rhetores  (rhetoricians  who  cater  to  the  ears  of 
their  pupils). 

PASSERES  ET  MUSCARIUM.     Sparrows  and  a  flytrap. 

Used  to  make  puns  in  giving  out  presents.  56.9:  passeres  et  mus- 
carium:  uvam  passam  et  mel  Atticum  accepit  (dried  grapes  that 
sparrows  do  not  spare  and  Attic  honey,  the  best  of  all  flytraps ;  the 
first  is  a  pun  on  sound,  the  second  on  sense). 

PEDUCLUM.    Louse  and  tick. 

Of  small  and  great  faults,  a  crude  form  of  the  mote  and  beam 
proverb.     57.7:  in  alio  peduclum  vides,  in  te  ricinum  non  vides 

PEDIBUS.     Standing  on  many  feet. 

Having  many  interests,  of  a  man  born  under  the  sign  of  the 
crab.  39.8:  in  cancro  natus  sum.  ideo  multis  pedibus  sto,  et 
in  mari  et  in  terra  multa  possideo. 


50  Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius 

PERCUssoRES.     Assassins. 

Of  those  born  under  the  scorpion.     39.11:   (s.  v.  venenarii). 

PICA.     Magpie  on  a  couch. 

Of  a  woman  with  a  bad  tongue.  37.7:  est  tamen  malae  linguae, 
pica  pulvinaris. 

PILAVIT.  Plucking  feathers  from  a  barnyard  owl,  a  bird  of  ill  omen. 
Of  a  man  who  has  had  hard  luck.  43.4:  et  inter  initia  malam 
parram  pilavit.  44.8 :  in  curia  autem  quomodo  singulos  pilabat, 
nee  schemas  loquebatur  sed  derectum  (plucking  the  hair  out,  of 
surpassing  one's  opponents  in  the  senate  house,  "making  the 
fur  fly"). 

PISCES.     Fish  ought  to  have  something  to  swim  in. 

Of  drinking  wine  after  a  fish  course  at  dinner,  a  word-play, 
probably  a  proverb.  39.2 :  hoc  vinum  vos  oportet  suave  faciatis. 
pisces  natare  oportet. 

RANA.     Frog  and  king. 

Of  a  man  who  has  been  poor  and  insignificant,  but  is  now  rich 

and  powerful.    77.6 :  sic  amicus  vester,  qui  fuit  rana,  nunc  est  rex. 
RESILIERIT.     Springing  back  from. 

Of  lack  of  application  to  study.    46.7 :  nam  litteris  satis  inquinatus 

est.     quod  si  resilierit,  destinavi  ilium  artificii  docere. 
RHETORES.    Rhetoricians. 

A  word-play.     39.12  (s.  v.  obsonatores) . 
RICINUM.     A  tick. 

Of  a  great  fault  in  one's  self.    57.7  (s.  v.  peduclum). 
RiCTU.     Jaws  of  an  animal. 

Of   the   power   of   luxury   in   weakening   Rome.      55.6    (s.    v. 

?narcent) . 
RINGENTEM.     Snarling  of  a  dog. 

Of  anger  in  a  man.    75.6:  suadeo,  bonutn  tuum  concoquas,  milva, 

et  me  non  facias  ringentem. 
ROSTRUM.     Beak  of  a  bird. 

Of  the  mouth  and  chin  of  a  man.     75.10:  et  ut  celerius  rostrum 

barbatum  haberem,  labra  de  lucerna  ungebam. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius  51 


STABULUM.     Stall  for  an  animal. 

Of  lodging  for  a  man.     6.2:  nee  quod  stabulum  esset  sciebam 
(cf.  8.2). 

STELio.     Stellion,  amphibian  animal. 

Of  the  crafty  and  shrewd   Hannibal.     50.5 :   Hannibal,   homo 
vafer  et  magnus  stelio. 

TAURUM.    Bull  and  calf. 

Of  extremes  in  sexual  intercourse,  a  proverb.     25.6:  ut  dicatur 
posse  taurum  tollere,   qui  vitulum  sustulerit. 

TAURULUS.     Little  bull. 

Of  the  heavens  under  the  sign  of  the  bull.     39.6;  deinde  totus 
caelus  taurulus  fit. 

TUBER.    A  swelling  on  an  animal. 

A  mound  of  earth,  a  mole-hill,  of  a  man  in  abuse.     58.4  (s.  v. 
mus) . 

UNGUES.     Cutting  the  claws  from  a  flying  kite. 

Of  being  willing  to  do  any  thing  to  carry  one's  point.     45.9: 
ille  milvo  volanti  poterat  ungues  resecare. 

UTRES.    Inflated  bags  of  skin. 

Of  vain  and  braggart  persons.     42.4:  heu,  eheu.     utres  inflati 
ambulamus. 

VENENARii.     Poisoners  and  assassins. 

Of  those  born  under  the  sign  of  the  scorpion  which  is  poisonous. 
39.11:  in  scorpione  venenarii  et  percussores  nascuntur. 

VERVEX.     Wether. 

Of  a  man  in  abuse,  "muttonhead".     57.1  iquid  rides,  vervexf 

viPERAM.    Nourishing  a  viper  under  the  armpit. 

Of  having  a  troublesome  wife.     77.2:  tu  viperam  sub  ala  nutri- 
cas. 

VITULUM.    A  calf. 

Of  beginning  in  the  practice  of  sexual  intercourse.     25.6   (s.  v. 
taurum). 


52  Metaphors  and  Word-plaps  in  Petronius 

VOLITANT.    Flit  before  the  eyes. 

Of  passing  through  the  mind  in  imagination.  123.216:  arma 
cruor,  caedes,  incendia  totaque  bella   ante  oculos  volitant. 

VOLPIS.    A  wet  fox. 

Of  a  man  in  derision.  58.11 :  iam  scies  hoc  ferruin  fidem  hahere 
vah,  bella  res  est  vol  pis  uda. 

VOLUCER     .     .     .     PENNis     .     .     .     voLAT.     Flying  of  a  bird. 

Of  the  rapid  movements  of  rumor.  123.210  and  211:  dum 
Caesar  tumidas  iratus  deprimit  arces,  interea  volucer  motis  con- 
territa  pinnis  Fama  volat  suT?imique  petit  iuga  celsa  Palati. 

VULPES.    Foxes. 

Of  people  who  are  sly  and  shy  in  public  with  regard  to  their 
interests.    44.14  (s.  v.  leones). 

2.      Soil  and  Vegetable  Kingdom. 

ARATA.     Plowing  land. 

Of  searching  the  sea.  93.2:  ultimis  ah  oris  attractus  scarus 
atque  arata  Syrtis  si  quid  naufragio  dedit,  probatur. 

CAEPA.     Curly  onion. 

Of  a  slave  in  derision.  58.2:  tu  autem,  etiam  tu  rides,  caepa 
cirrata  (cf.  Pers.  1.29;  Mart.  9.29.7). 

CARICAE.     Dried  figs,  a  delicacy. 

Of  past  accomplishments  of  a  guest.  64.3 :  et  solebas  suavius 
esse,  canturire  belle  diverbia,  adicere  melicam.  heu  heu,  abis- 
tis  dulcis  caricae. 

CAUNIARUM.    Worth  three  figs. 

Of  a  worthless  aedile  who  did  not  consider  the  people.  44.13: 
sed  quare  nos  habe?nus  aedilem  trium  cauniarum,  qui  sibi  ma- 
vult  assem  quam  vitam   nostram? 

CUCURBITAE.    Gourds,  which  require  much  water  in  growth. 

Of  gourd-headed  people  born  under  aquarius,  "simlin-heads" 
(colloquial).  39.12:  in  aquario  copones  (inn-keepers,  who  water 
the  wine)   et  cucurbitae  nascuntur. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius  53 

EFFODERENT.      Digging  OUt. 

Of  selecting  words  in  literature.  4.3 :  ut  verba  atroci  stilo 
effoderent. 

FRUGES.     Fruits. 

Of  the  results  produced  by  shedding  blood.  120.99:  et  horrida 
tellus  extulit  in  lucern  nutritas  sanguine  fruges. 

FLORis.    Flower. 

Of  youth,  mixed  metaphor  with  extincti.  140.1 :  turn  anus  et 
floris  extincti,  fHium  filiamque  ingerebat  orbis  senibus. 

IRRIGARENTUR.     Irrigating. 

Of  strengthening  the  mind  by  reading.  4.3 :  ut  studiosi  iuvenes 
lectione  severa  irrigarentur. 

LUTO.     Grain  as  dirt. 

Of  the  cheapness  of  grain,  cheap  as  dirt.  44.10:  itaque  illo  tem- 
pore annona  pro  luto  erat.  51.6:  quia  enim,  si  scitum  esset, 
aurum  pro  luto  haberemus  (of  the  value  of  gold).  67.10:  muli- 
eres  si  non  essent,  omnia  pro  luto  haberemus  (of  the  cheapness  of 
every  thing,  if  it  were  not  for  the  extravagance  of  women). 

PERFODIT.     Digging  through. 

Of  picking  the  teeth.  33.1 :  ut  deinde  pinna  argentea  denies  per- 
fodit. 

POMUM.    Fine  sample  of  fruit. 

Of  a  person  in  derision,  "peach".  57.3 :  bellum  pomum,  qui 
rid  eat  ur  alios  (cf.  Plaut.  Ps.  1.  3.  143). 

PORRi  ET  PERSICA.    Slashed  leeks  and  sliced  peaches. 

He  receives  a  lash  and  a  carving  knife,  pun  on  the  sense.  56.9 : 
porri  et  persica:  flagellum  et  cultrum  accepit. 

RUTAE.     Hurling  one  upon  the  leaf  of  a  rue. 

Of  making  one  come  to  grief  because  of  being  excelled  in  prop- 
erty. 37.10:  ad  summam,  quemvis  ex  istis  babaecalis  in  rutae 
foliuTU  coniciet.  58.5 :  nee  sursum  nee  deorsu?n  non  cresco,  nisi 
dominum  tuum  in  rutae  folium  non  conieci  (of  inflicting  punish- 
ment). 


54  Metaphors  and  Word-plai)s  in  Petronius 

ROSA.     The  rose  fears  the  cinnamon. 

Of  the  wife  fearing  the  mistress.  93.2:  arnica  vincit  uxorem. 
rosa  cinnamum  veretur. 

SOLUM.    Turning  the  soil. 

Of  promoting  lustful  desire.  81.5:  qui  postquam  conturbavit  et 
libidinis  suae  solum  vertit,  reliquit  veteris  amicitiae  nomen. 

STIPS.    Stock  of  a  tree. 

Of  a  man,  blockhead.  43.5 :  et  ille  stips,  dum  fratri  suo  irasci- 
tur,  nescio  cui  terrae  filio  patrimonium  elegavit. 

VASCULO.    Seed-pod  of  plants. 

Of  membrum  virile.  24.7 :  ?nox  manutn  etiam  demisit  in  sinum 
et  pertrectato  vasculo  tarn  rudi,  inquit. 

viNUM.    Wine. 

Identified  with  life.  34.7 :  quare  tangomenas  faciamus.  vita 
vinuni  est.     verum  Opimianum  praesto. 

viRiDARio.     Pleasure  garden. 

Of  the  sporting  days  of  youth.  9.10:  qui  ne  turn  quidem,  cum 
fortiter  faceres,  cum  pura  muliere  pugnasti,  cuius  eadem  ratione 
in  viridario  f rater  fui. 

3.      Heat  and  Cold. 

AESTUANTis.     Burning  of  fire. 

Of  lustful  love,  in  a  series  of  such  figures.  126.5:  nam  quod 
servum   te   et   humilem   fateris,   accendis  desiderium   aestuantis. 

ACCENSis.     Set  on  fire. 

Of  minds  aroused.  124.283:  sumite  nunc  gentes  accensis  men- 
tibus  arma.  126,5:  accendis  (of  arousing  passionate  desire,  v.  s. 
aestuantis).  126.6:  harena  alias  accendit  (arousing  the  fire  of 
passion ) . 

ADUREBAT.     Burning  the  earth. 

Of  a  man's  manner  of  walking,  burned  the  earth  brown.  44.7 : 
is  quacunque  ibat,  terram  adurebat. 


p 


Metaphors  and  Word-piaips  in  Petronius  55 


CALENTES.     Growing  warm. 

Of  aroused  passions.  79.8:  haesimus  calentes.  126.5:  quaedam 
enim  feminae  sordibus  calent,  nee  libidinem  concitant,  nisi  aut 
servos  viderint  aut  statores  altius  cinctos  (of  the  passions  again). 
132.15:  quis  vetat  in  tepido  membra  calere  toro  (members 
growing  warm  in  lust)  ? 

CALOREM.    Covering  up  fire. 

Of  suppressing  the  power  of  the  mind  with  wine.  5.7:  nee 
perditis  addietus  obruat  vino  mentis  ealorem.  126.18:  tempta 
modo  tangere  eorpus,  iam  tua  flammifero  membra  ealore  fluent 
(of  aroused  passions). 

COMBURAM.     Burning  alive. 

Of  very  severe  punishment.     78.2:  alioquin  te  vivum  eomburam. 

EXCANDUIT.     Glowing  with  fire. 

Of  excessive  anger,  "got  hot".  53.8 :  exeanduit  Trimalchio 
57.1 :  unus  ex  eonlibertis  Trimalehionis  exeanduit  (in  the  same 
sense).  100.4:  ceterum  eadem  indignatione  mulier  laeerata 
ulterius  exeanduit  (burning  with  anger  and  also  with  passionate 
love,  a  word-play). 

EXTINXIT.     Putting  out  of  fire,  or  light. 

Of  killing,  "putting  one's  light  out".  88.5 :  Lysippum  statuae 
unius  lineamentis  inhaerentem  inopia  extinxit.  94 A:  itaque  extra 
eellam  processitj  tanquam  aquam  peteret,  iramque  meam  pru- 
denti  absentia  extinxit  (of  causing  anger  to  pass  away  by  ab- 
sence). 122.130:  parte  alia  plenos  extinxit  Cynthia  vultus  et 
lueem  seeleri  subduxit  (of  the  moon  hiding  her  face,  continued 
in  lueem).  126.18:  Parium  marmor  extinxerat  (of  the  fairness 
of  a  woman  surpassing  Parian  marble  in  whiteness).  \A0.\:  tum 
anus  et  floris  extineti,  filiam  fiUumque  ingerebat  orbis  sensibus  (of 
the  bloom  of  youth  being  gone  and  passion  with  it,  mixed  figure). 
139.4:  nunquam  finies  hune  ignem,  nisi  sanguine  extinxeris  (put- 
ting out  the  fire  of  passionate  love). 

FAX.    Torch  of  fire. 

Of  lustful  love,  membrum  virile  may  be  in  mind,  to  which  idea 
surgit  corresponds.  127.7:  semper  inter  haee  nomina  magna  fax 
surgit. 


56  Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius 


FERVERE.     Boiling  up  of  water. 

Of  excessive  anger.  57.3:  non  mehercules  soleo  cito  fervere. 
59.1 :  sanguen  illi  fervet,  tu  melior  esto  (blood  boiling,  of  great 
anger). 

FLAGRANTI.    Fire  and  its  efifects. 

Of  the  results  of  war,  continued  in  incendia.  124.263  and  264: 
atque  flagranti  stipite  dextra  minax  terris  incendia  portat. 

FLAMMA.    Fire  consuming  the  marrow  of  the  bones. 

Of  the  elifect  of  anger  on  the  inner  nature.  120.106:  nee  enitn 
minor  ira  rebellat  pectore  in  hoc  leviorque  exurit  flamma  medul- 
las. 134.12:  taurorum  flamma  quiescit  virgineis  extincta  sacris 
(putting  out  fire,  of  the  passing  of  such  anger  as  bulls  exhibit). 

FRiGiDiOR.     Coldness  of  a  Gallic  winter. 

Of  the  lack  of  manly  vigor.  19.3:  ego  autem  frigidior  hieme 
Gallica  f actus  nullum  potui  verbum  emittere.  132.8:  namque 
ilia  metu  frigidior  rigente  bruma  confugerat  in  viscera  mille 
operta  rugis  (terms  of  winter,  of  the  inactivity  of  membrum 
virile ) . 

FRIGUS.    Coldness. 

Of  the  lack  of  passion.  129.7:  quod  si  idem  frigus  genua  manus- 
que  temptaverit  tuas,  licet  ad  tubicines  mittas. 

IGNEM.     Fire. 

Of  wrath  directed  toward  an  inactive  membrum  virile.  132.7: 
conditusque  lectulo  totum  ignem  furoris  in  earn  converti,  quae 
mihi  omnium  malorum  causa  fuerat.     139.4  (s.  v.  extinxit). 

INCENDIA.     (s.  V.  flagranti). 

INTEPESCENTE.    Becoming  luke-warm. 

Of  the  waning  of  anger,  continued  from  extinxit  (s.  v.).  94.5: 
paululum  ergo  intepescente  saevitia,  inquam. 

LAMPADAS.    Torches. 

Of  minds  aroused,  continuing  figure  in  accensis  (s.  v.).  124.284: 
sumite  et  in  ?nedias  i?nmittite  lampadas  urbes. 

PRUiNosis.    Frosty. 

Of  garments  that  give  no  warmth.  83.10:  sola  pruinosis  horret 
facundia  pannis. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plaps  in  Petronius  57 


RUBORE.    Redness  of  a  flame. 

Of  blushing,  with  incensissimam.  67.13:  incensissimam  rubore 
faciem  sudario  abscondit, 

4.    Color,  Light,  and  Shadow. 

coLORis.    Color. 

Of  diction  in  a  poem.  2.8:  ac  ne  carmen  quidem  colons  sani 
enituit.  63.10:  ceterum  baro  ille  longus  post  hoc  factum  nun- 
quam  coloris  sui  fuit  (of  never  becoming  one's  self  again). 

ENITUIT.     Shining  of  light. 

Of  a  poem  becoming  famous.    2.8  (s.  v.  coloris). 

INQUINATUS.     Stained  by  dyeing. 

Of  becoming  imbued  with  literature.  46.7:  nam  litteris  satis 
inquinatus  est. 

LUCEM.     Light. 

Of  life.  94.8:  intrat  Eumolpus  cum  Gitone  meque  a  fatali  iam 
meta  revocat  ad  lucem. 

MACULOSA.     Stained  or  spotted. 

Of  bad  stjde.     2.6 :  oratio  non  est  maculosa. 

MYRTEA.    Myrtle-colored. 

Of  a  garment  in  which  a  catamite  was  clothed  to  harmonize 
with  his  lustful  nature  (since  the  myrtle  was  sacred  to  Venus). 
21.2:  ultimo  cinaedus  supervenit  myrtea  subornatus  gausapa 
cinguloque  succinctus. 

NITET.    Shining  of  light. 

Of  the  abundance  of  vegetation.  99.3 :  ast  ubi  aratro  domefacta 
tellus  nitet,  dum  loqueris,  levis  pruina  dilabitur.  118.5:  praete- 
rea  curandum  est,  ne  sententiae  emineant  extra  corpus  orationis 
expressae,  sed  intexto  vestibus  colore  niteant  (shining  of  em- 
broidery on  garments,  of  brilliancy  in  style). 

OBUMBRARE.     Casting  a  shadow  over. 

Of  disguising.  101.8:  poteris  hanc  simulationem  et  vultus  con- 
fusione  et  lacrimis  obumbrare  (cf.  Ov.  Pont.  3.3.75). 


58  Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius 


TENEBRAS.     Believing  it  darkness  at  midday. 

Of  believing  anything  told  by  the  wife.  37.5:  ad  summam, 
mero  meridie  si  dixerit  illi  tenebras  esse,  credet. 

UMBRA.    Shadow. 

Of  the  hair  on  the  temples.  109.9:  nunc  umbra  nudata  sua  iam 
tempora  maerent  .  129 A:  in  umbra  voluptatis  diutius  lusi  (in  the 
shadow  of,  of  being  near  to  gratification  in  sexual  intercourse). 

UMBRATicus.     In  one's  shadow. 

Of  being  secluded  in  life.  2.4:  nondum  umbraticus  doctor  in- 
genia  deleverat,  cum  Pindarus  novemque  lyrici  Homericis  versi- 
bus  canere  timuerunt. 

5.    Elements  and  Seasons. 

CAELUM.     Mounting  up  to  heaven. 

Of  having  great  influence.  37.4:  nunc  nee  quid  nee  quare,  in 
caelum  abiit  et  Trimalchionis  topanta  est.  44.1 :  narratis  quod 
nee  ad  caelum  nee  ad  terram  pertinet  (not  pertaining  to  heaven 
nor  earth,  of  telling  something  not  to  the  point).  45.3:  non 
debemus  delicati  esse,  ubique  medius  caelus  est  (heaven  every- 
where equally  distant,  of  blessings  being  equally  distributed). 

FULMEN.    Thunderbolt. 

Of  an  outburst  of  anger.  75.1 :  post  hoc  fulmen  Habinnas  ro- 
gare  coepit.  101.1 :  intremui  post  hoc  fulmen  attonitus  (thunder- 
struck after  this  thunderbolt,  of  great  surprise  and  fear). 

FULMiNATUS.    Struck  by  a  thunderbolt. 

Of  great  astonishment.  80.7 :  fulminatus  hac  pronuntiatione,  sic 
ut  eram,  sine  gladio  in  lectulum  decidi. 

HiEMPS.     Winter. 

Of  age  as  the  destroyer  of  the  hair.  109.9:  quod  solum  formae 
decus  est,  cecidere  capilli,  vernantesque  comas  tristis  abegit 
hiemps. 

ICTUS.     Struck  by  a  thunderbolt. 

Of  being  astonished.  100.5:  uterque  nostrum  tam  inexpectato 
ictus  sono  amiserat  sanguinem. 


Metaphors  and  Word-pla^s  in  Petronius  59 

IMBER.     Rain-storm. 

Of  excessive  tears.  17.3:  ut  ergo  tarn  ambitiosus  detumuit  imber, 
retexit  superbum  pallio  caput. 

INTONUIT.     Thundering. 

Of  the  loud  noise  made  by  a  horn-player,  "thundered  away."  78.6 : 
unus  praecipue  servus  Ubitinarii  illius,  qui  inter  hos  honestissimus 
erat,  tarn  valde  intonuit,  ut  totam  concitaret  viciniam. 

LUNA.     Moon  coming  from  behind  the  clouds. 

Of  the  brightness  of  the  face  of  a  woman.  127.1  :  delectata  ilia 
risit  tarn  blandum,  ut  videretur  mihi  plenum  os  extra  nubem  luna 
proferre. 

NIMBO.    Wall  contending  with  a  rain-cloud. 

Of  much  chalk  mingled  with  much  sweat  on  the  face.  23.5 : 
inter  rugas  malarum  tantum  erat  cretae,  ut  putares  detectum 
parietem  nimbo  laborare. 

NUBE.     Sooty  cloud. 

Of  a  black  face.  108.2:  et  liquefactu?n  per  totum  os  atramentum 
omnia  scilicet  lineamenta  fuliginea  nube  confudit. 

PROCELLAM.     Storm. 

Of  a  commotion  at  dinner.  26.8 :  itaque  cum  maesti  delibera- 
remus  quonam  genere  praesentem  evitaremus  procellamj  unus 
servus  Agamemnonis  interpellavit. 

siDERE.     Pestilential  star. 

Of  some  bad  influence  on  literature.  2.7:  nuper  ventosa  istaec 
et  enormis  loquacitas  Athenas  ex  Asia  commigravit  animosque 
iuvenum  ad  magna  surgentes  veluti  pestilenti  quodam  sidere 
instituit. 

TROPICA.     Turning  back  of  the  sun. 

Of  change  in  artistic  taste.  88.2 :  pecuniae  cupiditas  haec  tropica 
instituit. 

TONITRU.     Thunder. 

Of  the  startling  news  of  Caesar's  approach.  123.212:  Fama 
volat  summique  petit  iuga  celsa  Palati  atque  hoc  Romano  toni- 
tru  ferit  omnia  signa. 


60  Metaphors  and  Word-plaj^s  in  Petronius 


VENTOSA.    Full  of  wind. 

Of  bombastic  style,  continued  in  afflavit  (puffed  up  the  minds). 
2.7  (s.  V.  sidere) .  137.10:  nee  me  fallebat  inanes  scilicet  ac 
sine  medulla  ventosas  nuces  in  summo  umore  consistere  (of  light 
and  empty  nuts). 

VERNANTES.     Springlike. 

Of  abundant  hair.     109.9  (s.  v.  hiemps). 

6.    Water  and  the  Sea. 

AESTU.    Surging  of  the  sea. 

Of  an  abundance  of  words  in  a  poem.  6.1 :  et  dum  in  hoc  dic- 
torum  aestu  in  hortis  incedo,  ingens  scholasticorum  turba  in 
porticum  venit. 

AQUAM.     Dashing  water  into  the  mouth. 

Of  doing  the  most  trivial  thing.  67.2:  nisi  argentum  composu- 
erit,  nisi  reliquias  pueris  diviserit,  aquam  in  os  suum  non  coniciet 
(cf.  42.5  in  a  literal  sense). 

BIBERINT.     Drinking. 

Of  scratches  on  the  face  absorbing  ink.  106.1 :  o  te  feminam 
simplicem,  tanquam  vulnera  ferro  praeparata  litteras  biberint. 
120.98:  ex  quo  Sullanus  bibit  ensis  (sword  drinking  blood). 

CALDUM.  Making  hot  water  (passing  urine)  and  drinking  cold  water. 
Of  its  being  hard  to  make  the  income  meet  the  expense  account, 
owing  to  the  extravagance  of  women.  67.10:  mulieres  si  non 
essent,  omnia  pro  luto;  nunc  hoc  est  caldum  meiere  et  frigidum 
potare. 

DEFUNDES.    Flooding  with  water. 

Of  improving  diction.  5.21  and  22:  sic  flumine  largo  plenus 
Pierio  defundes  pectore  verba. 

DEMERSI.     Submerged  with  water. 

Of  being  overcome  with  wine  and  lust.  88.6:  at  nos  vino  scor- 
tisque  demersi  ne  paratas  quidem  artes  audemus  cognoscere. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius  61 

DiFFUSi.     Pouring  out  in  different  directions. 

Of  excessive  laughter.  10.3:  itaque  ex  tutpissima  lite  in  risum 
diffusi  pacatius  ad  reliqua  secessimus. 

EFFUSA.    Pouring  forth  of  confined  water. 

Of  breaking  out  into  laughter.  18.7:  complosis  deinde  manibus 
in  tantum  repente  risum  effusa  est,  ut  timeremus.  58.1 :  post  hoc 
dictum  Giton,  qui  ad  pedes  stabat,  risum  iam  diu  compressum 
etiam  indecenter  effudit. 

ENATAVI.     Swimming  out. 

Of  getting  out  of  a  difficult  situation.  57.10:  tamen — genio 
illius  gratias — enatavi  (cf.  Cic.  Tusc.  5.31.87). 

FONTEM.     Drinking  of  the  fountain  of  Homer. 

Of  imbibing  his  spirit.  5.12:  Maeoniumque  bibat  felici  pectore 
fontem.  88.7 :  quis  unquam  venit  in  templum  et  votum  fecit,  si 
ad  eloquentiam  pervenisset?  quis,  si  philosphiae  fontem  attigissetf 
(fountain  of  philosophy). 

FLUMINE.     River  of  water. 

Of  an  abundance  of  the  Homeric  spirit.  5.21  (s.  v.  defundes 
and  inundamur). 

FLUCTUM.    Wave  of  the  sea. 

Of  disorder  of  the  whole  body.    47.6 :  credite  mihi,  anathymiasis 

in  cerebrum  it  et  in  toto  corpore  fluctum  facit. 
FLUENT.    Flowing  of  water. 

Of  excess  in  lust,  mixed  metaphor.    126.18 :  tempta  modo  tangere 

corpus,  iam  tua  flammifero  membra  colore  fluent. 

GURGITE.     Whirlpool. 

Of  great  misfortune.     119.51  and  52:  praeterea  gemino  depren- 

sam  gurgite  plebem  faenoris  illuvies  ususque  exederat  aeris. 
HAURIRET.     Fire  swallowing  or  drinking. 

Of  destroying  a  person.     98.9:  utinam  me  solum  inimicus  ignis 

hauriret. 
ILLUVIES.    Overflow  of  water. 

Of  excessive  interest,  mixed  metaphor  with  exederat.     119.52 

(s.  V.  gurgite). 


62  Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius 


INGURGITATA.     Flooded  with  wine. 

Of  being  drunk.  79.6:  anus  enim  ipsa  inter  diversitores  diutius 
ingurgitata  ne  ignem  quidem  admotum  sensisset.  86.3 :  totoque 
corpore  citra  summam  voluptatem  me  ingurgitavi  (flooding  with 
water,  of  excessive  indulgence  in  lust). 

INUNDAMUR.     Deluge  of  water. 

Of  excesive  drinking  of  wine.  21.6:  et  gustatione  mirifica  initi- 
ati  vino  etiam  Falerno  inundamur.  101.3:  inundatus  hac  Eu- 
molpus  invidia  iurat  per  deos  deasque  se  neque  scire  quid  acci- 
derit  (of  being  overcome  in  mind).  113.9:  inundavere  pectus 
lacrimae  dolor e  paratae  (of  copious  tears).  118.3:  neque  con- 
cipere  aut  edere  partum  mens  potest  nisi  ingenti  flumine  litte- 
rarum  inundate  (of  filling  the  mind  with  literature). 

LA  VAT.     Hand  washes  hand. 

Help  brings  help.  45.13:  computa,  et  tibi  plus  do  quam  accept, 
manus  manum  lavat. 

LiQUESCiT.    Turning  to  a  fluid. 

Of  the  loss  of  courage  at  the  idea  of  taking  a  bath.  42.2:  aqua 
dentes  habet,  et  cor  nostrurri  cotidie  liquescit  (cf.  Cic.  Tusc. 
2.22.52). 

LOTIUM.     Not  worth  his  urine. 

Of  no  account.  57.3 :  larifuga  nescio  quis,  nocturnus,  qui  non 
valet  lotium  suum. 

NATAT.    Floating  on  the  sea. 

Of  the  uncertainty  of  life.   \\5.\0:  en  homo  quemadmodum  natat. 

NAUFRAGIUM.     Shipwreck. 

Of  the  trials  of  life.  115.17:  si  bene  calculum  ponas,  ubique 
naufragium  est. 

PERFUNDiMus.    Pouring  water  on  the  face. 

Of  shedding  blood,  120.96  and  97:  iam  pridem  nullo  perfundi- 
mus  ora  cruore,  nee  mea  Tisiphone  sitientis  perluit  artus. 

PERLUIT.     Bathing  thirsty  limbs. 

Of  fury  getting  vengeance.     120.97   (s.  v.  perfundimus) . 


Metaphors  and  Word-plaj)s  in  Petronius  63 

PONTUM.    The  sea. 

Of  anger,  as  well  as  literal  meaning,  continued  in  gurgitibus  and 
fluctus.  108,14:  ne  vincite  pontum  gurgitibusque  feris  alios 
imponite  fluctus  (do  not  overcome  the  sea  and  then  stir  up  other 
waves  in  the  cruel  troubled  waters). 

PRAELABITUR.    Gliding  of  a  river. 

Of  anger's  not  affecting  the  learned,  mixed  metaphor  with 
obsidet.  99.3:  {ira)  feras  quidem  mentes  obsidet,  eruditas  prae- 
labitur. 

PROFLUEBANT.     Flowing  of  a  brook. 

Of  profuse  perspiration,  also  in  rtvi.  23.5:  profluebant  per 
frontem  sudantis  acaciae  rivi. 

TRANSFUDIMUS.    Transferring  water  from  one  vessel  to  another. 
Of  absolute  surrender  of  lustful  lives  in  sexual  intercourse.    79.8 : 
haesimus  calentes  et  transfudimus  hinc  et  hinc  labellis  errantes 
animas. 


III.    EXPRESSIONS  OF  MOTION 


ABiciET.    Throwing  away. 

Of  giving  up  life,  dying.  74.2 :  non  sine  causa  hie  bucinus 
signum  dedit;  nam  aut  incendium  oportet  fiat,  aut  aliquis  in 
vicinia  animam  abiciet. 

AMBULANTEM.    Walking  badly. 

Of  the  poor  preservation  (fidem)  of  garments.  12.1:  quarum 
fidem  male  ambulantem  obscuritas  temporis  facillime  tegeret. 

ARCESSENDOS.     Summoning  messengers. 

Of  collecting  one's  thoughts.  115.20:  Eumolpus  autem  dum 
epigramma  mortuo  facit,  oculos  ad  arcessendos  sensus  longius 
mitt  it. 

CIRCUITU.    Roundabout  journey. 

Of  a  long  procedure  by  law.     13.4:  negavi  circuitu  agendum, 

sed  plane  iure  civili  dimicandum, 
CLivo  LABORARE.    Toiling  up  a  hill. 

Of  approaching  the  climax  of  a  dinner.     47.8:  nee  adhuc  scie- 

bamus  nos  in  medio  lautitiarum,  quod  aiunt,  clivo  laborare  (cf. 

Ov.  Heroid.    20.41 ;  Sen.  Ep.  31.4). 
COLLIDENT.    Causing  to  strike  together. 

Of  causing  persons  to  quarrel.     10.5:  alioqui  mille  eausae  quoti- 

die  nos  collident. 
COMMIGRAVIT,     Moving  with  one's  effects. 

Of  the  introduction  of  a  new  kind  of  oratory.    2.7:  nuper  ventosa 

istaee  et  enormis  loquacitas  Athenas  ex  Asia  commigravit  ani- 

mosque    iuvenum    ad    magna   surgentes   veluti   pestilenti   sidere 

afflavit. 
coNFUGERAT.    Taking  flight. 

Of    the    inactivity    of    membrum    virile.      132.8:    namque    ilia 

metu  frigidior  rigente  bruma  confugerat  in  viscera  mille  operta 

rugis. 


Metaphors  and  Word-pla^s  in  Petronius  65 


coNiciAS.    Throwing  in  a  well. 

Of  the  uselessness  of  helping  a  woman.  42.7;  neminem  nihil 
boni  facere  oportet;  aeque  est  enim  ac  si  in  puteum  concias. 

CONVELLERET.    Pulling  one's  side. 

Of  calling  for  lustful  connection.  130.8:  tanta  erat  placandi 
cura,  ut  timerem,  ne  latus  meum  frater  convelleret. 

CORROTUNDAVI.    Rounding  off. 

Of  getting  together  a  large  sum  of  money,  "a  round  sum". 
76.8 :  uno  cursu  centies  sestertium  corrotundavi. 

DISCUSSIT.     Shaking  out  in  different  directions. 

Of  causing  laughter  to  spread  in  a  crowd.  15.1 :  hinc  Ascyltos 
bene  risum  discussit.  73.5 :  ergo  ebrietate  discussa  (of  getting  rid 
of  drunkenness). 

DissiLio.    Leaping  apart. 

Bursting  open  with  good  luck,  of  great  prosperity.  75.9:  felici- 
tate dissilio. 

EXCUTERE.    Shaking  out  the  folds  of  a  garment  to  discover  theft. 

Of  examining  the  cause.  88.1 :  coepi  aetates  tahularum  et  quae- 
dam  argumenta  mihi  obscura  siinulque  causam  desidiae  praesentis 
excutere. 

EXIRE.     Going  out  of  one's  self. 

Of  getting  beside  one's  self.  90.4:  ut  quotiescumque  coeperis 
a  te  exire,  sanguinem  tibi  a  capite  mittam. 

EXSURGIT.    Dignified  rising. 

Of  rising  to  a  climax  in  style.  2.6 :  grandis  et  ut  ita  dictam  pudica 
oratio  non  est  maculosa  nee  turgida^  sed  naturali  pulchritudine 
exsurgit. 

EXTENDiT.    Spreading  one's  self  against. 

Of  opposing  successfully,  "spread  himself".  46.8:  modo,  modo 
collo  suo  circumferebat  onera  venalia,  nunc  etiam  adversus  Nor- 
banum  se  extendit. 


66  Metaphors  and  Word-plags  in  Petronius 

EXTORQUERE.    Wrenching  something  away. 

Of  violating  chastity.  9.4:  tuus  iste  f rater  seu  comes  paulo  ante 
in  conductum  accucurrit  coepitque  milii  velle  pudorem  extorquere. 
87.3  :  irrepsi  tamen  et  male  repugnanti  gaudium  extorsi  (of  violat- 
ing chastity).  35.6:  atque  ipse  etiam  taeterrima  voce  de  Laser- 
piciario  mimo  canticum  extorsit  (of  reciting  a  poem  badly). 

FUGI.    Fleeing  to. 

Of  using  words.  132.8:  ad  verba,  magis  quae  poterant  nocere, 
fugi. 

LABEREMUR.    Falling. 

Of  a  person  going  *o  sleep.     21  7:  cum  laberemur  in  somnum. 

22.1 :  cum  Ascyltos  gravatus  tot  malis  in  somnum  laberetur  (same 

phrase ) . 
LEVATUM.    Lifted  by  the  chin. 

Of  prosperity  in  business,  holding  a  high  head.     29.5 :  in  defi- 

ciente  vero  iam  porticu  levatum  mento  in  tribunal  excelsum  Mer- 

curius  rapiebat. 
MOLUIT.     Grinding  of  a  mill. 

Of  intercourse  of  two  men.    23.5  :  super  inguina  mea  diu  multum- 

que  frustra  moluit  (ground  away). 
PERCUSSIT.     Piercing. 

Of  the  effect  of  sound  upon  the  ears.    68.5 :  nullus  sonus  unquam 

acidior  percussit  aures  meas. 

PRAiiCiPiTANDUS.     Hurling  a  body. 

Of  the  movement  of  the  mind  in  writing  history.  118.6  (s.  v. 
ambages.  Travel). 

REFUGIENDUM.    Fleeing  from. 

Of  avoiding  bad  diction.  118.4:  refugiendum  est  ab  omni  ver- 
borum,  ut  ita  dicam,  vilitate  et  sumendae  voces  a  plebe  semotae. 

SEMOTAE.    Far  removed. 

Of  being  different  from.     118.4  (s.  v.  refugiendum). 

SPISSARET.     Making  thick. 

Of  moving  more  rapidly  in  sexual  intercourse.  140.9:  clara 
Eumolpus  voce  exhortabatur  Coraca,  ut  spissaret  officium. 


Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius  67 

SURGENTES.     Climbing  a  height. 

Of  the  mind  rising  to  great  things.    2.7  (s.  v.  commigravit) . 

SUSTULIT.     Lifting  the  chin. 

Of  becoming  prosperous  after  misfortune.  43.4:  et  quod  illius 
mentum  sustuUtj  hereditatem  accepit.  91.7:  postquam  se  amari 
sensit,  super cilium  altius  sustulit  (lifting  the  brow,  of  assuming 
a  haughty  air). 

TRANSISSE.     Crossing  over. 

Of  changing  friendship  to  a  tie  of  blood.  80.6 :  ego  qui  vetustis- 
simam  consuetudinem  putabam  in  sanguinis  pignus  transisse, 
nihil  metui. 

TRUDITUR.    Pushing  or  driving. 

Of  the  progress  of  life,  life  is  trudged  along.  45.2:  quod  hodie 
non  est,  eras  erit:  sic  vita  truditur  (cf.  Hor.  C.  2.18.15). 

UNDE.    Whence,  as  a  noun. 

Of  having  money,  similar  to  our  "wherevi^ithal".  45.6:  et 
habet  unde. 

viBRABANT.     Vibrating  of  bodies. 

Of  the  interchange  of  stories,  moving  around.  47.1 :  eius  modi 
fabulae  vibrabant,  cum  Trimalchio  intravit. 

VOLABANT.     Flying. 

Of  passing  M^ine  around.  137.13:  volabant  inter  haec  poti- 
ones  meracae. 


IV.    PROPER  NAMES 


AsiADis.     Something  of  the  Asiatic  in  him. 

Of  a  man's  flowery  style  of  speech.  44.9:  puto  eum  nescio 
quid  Asiadis  habuisse. 

Achilles.    Achilles,  the  man  of  strength. 

Of  a  man  in  the  strength  of  his  lust.  129.1 :  funerata  est  ilia 
pars  corporis,  qua  quondam  Achilles  eram. 

Bromium,  etc.    a  series  of  names  of  Bacchus,  the  free  god. 

Of  a  slave  who  acts  with  great  freedom.  41.6ff:  puer  speci- 
osus,  vitibus  hederisque  redimitus,  modo  Bromium,  interdum 
Lyaeum  Euhiumque  confessus,  calathisco  uvas  circumtulit.  41.7: 
Dionyse,  liber  esto.  41.8:  non  negabitis  me  habere  Liberum 
patrem. 

Cappadocem.     Recognizing  the  Cappadocian  in  one. 

Of  his  good  qualities,  since  the  Cappadocians  were  strong  and 
trusty  slaves.  69.2 :  adcognosco  Cappadocem :  nihil  sibi  defrau- 
dit,  et  mehercules  laudo  ilium   (cf.  63.5  in  a  literal  sense). 

Cassandra.    Booted  Cassandra,  the  discredited  prophetess. 

As  a  term  of  abuse  for  a  wife.  74.14:  ita  genium  meum  propi- 
tium  habeam,  curabo,  domata  sit  Cassandra  caligaria. 

Chiam.     Living  the  Chian  life. 

Of  being  gay,  since  the  Chians  were  fast  livers.  63.3 :  nam  a 
puero  vitam  Chiam  gessi. 

CoRiNTHiA.    A  waiter  of  Corinthian  bronze. 

Of  one  made  by  a  man  named  Corinthus,  a  series  of  word  plays 
on  the  man  and  the  city.  50. Iff:  poculu7nque  in  lance  accepit 
Corinthia.  50.2:  solus  sum  qui  vera  Corinthea  habeam.  50.4: 
et  forsitan  quaeris,  quare  solus  Corinthea  vera  possidea?n :  quia 
scilicet  aerarius,  a  quo  emo,  Corinthus  vocatur.  quid  est  autem 
Corintheum,  nisi  quis  Corinthum  habetf 


Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius  69 

Cyclops.    Cyclops  and  archpirate. 

Of  Lichas,  the  owner  of  the  ship.  101.5:  hie  est  Cyclops  ille 
et  archipirata,  cut  vecturam  debemus.  101.7:  fingite  nos  antrum 
Cyclopis  intrasse  (of  getting  into  the  power  of  Lichas,  the  cap- 
tain). 

Daedalus.     The  clever  builder  of  the  labyrinth  of  Crete. 

Of  a  clever  and  talented  slave.  70.2 :  et  ideo  ingenio  meo  impo- 
situm  est  illi  nomen  bellissimurn;  nam  Daedalus  vacatur. 

Danaen.    Taking  Danae  as  a  wife. 

Of  securing  a  rich  wife  by  the  power  of  money,  allusion  to 
Jupiter  and  the  golden  shower.  137.9:  uxorem  ducat  Danaen 
ipsumque  licebit  Acrisium  iubeat  credere  quod  Danaen. 

Deliacl     Cut  by  the  hand  of  a  Delian,  castrated. 

Of  men  with  no  manly  vigor,  since  the  Delians  were  famous 
for  capons.  23.3  :  hue  hue  cito  convenite  nunc  .  .  .  molles, 
veteres,  Deliaci  manu  re  cist. 

Demosthenis.    The  weapons  of  Demosthenes. 

Of  the  practice  in  oratory.  5.  line  12ff:  Maeoniumque  bibat 
felici  pectore  fontem.  mox  et  Socratico  plenus  grege  mittat 
habenas  liber  et  ingentis  quatiat  Demosthenis  arma. 

Ganymedem.    Ganymedes,  the  cupbearer  of  Jupiter. 

Of  Giton,  who  serves  a  meal  well.     92.3 :  laudo  Ganymedem. 

Hannibal.     Hannibal  sailing  with  them. 

Of  some  great  danger,  allusion  to  alarm  caused  by  Hannibal's 
invasion  of  Italy,   101.4:  aut  quis  Hannibal  nobiscum  navigatf 

LABYRINTHO.     Labyrinth  of  Crete. 

Of  a  difficult  situation.  73.1  :  quid  faciarnus  homines  miserrimi 
et  novi  generis  labyrintho  inclusif 

Maecenatianus.     The   name   that   Trimalchio  would   take   as   a 
freedman,  if  his  owner  had  been  named  Maecenas. 
A  reference  to  the  famous  Maecenas  to  show  the  importance  of 
Trimalchio.      71.12:    C.   Pompeius    Trimalchio   Maecenatianus 
hie  requiescit. 

Maeonium.     Homeric. 

For  epic  poetry.    5.12  (s.  v.  Demosthenis). 


70  Metaphors  and  Word-plai)s  in  Petronius 

Menias.     a  coined  word,  based  on  the  story  told  by  Menenius  of 
the  belly  and  limbs,  a  fable. 

Of  foolish  things  in  general.     58.7:  non  did'ici  geometrias,  cri- 

tica  et  alogias  jnenias,  sed  lapidarias  litteras  scio. 
PENTHIACUM.     Coined  word,  based  on  the  story  of  the  tearing  to 
pieces  of  Pentheus  by  his  mother  and  sisters. 

Of    meat    cut    to    pieces,    a    country    dish.        47.10:    gallum 

enim  gallinaceum,  penthiacum  et  eiusmodi  nenias  rustici  faciunt: 

met  coci  etiani  vitulos  aeno  coctos  solent  facere. 
SiRENUM.     Home  of  the  Sirens. 

Of  Italy.     5.11:  Sirenumve  domus  (ridet),  det  primos  versibus 

annos. 
SocRATico.    Of  Socrates. 

Of  philosophy  in  general.    5.13  (s.  v.  Demosthenis). 
Spartana.     Spartan. 

Of  enduring  the  lash  with  boldness,  referring  to  the  hardiness 

of  the   Spartans.      105.5:   et  ego   quidem   tres  plagas  Spartana 

nobilitate  concoxi. 

Thebanum,    The  Theban  pair,  Eteocles  and  Polynices. 

Of  the  contest  of  Encolpius  and  Ascyltos  over  Giton.  80.3 : 
petehatque  suppliciter,  ne  Thebanum  par  humilis  taberna  spec- 
taret. 

Ulixes.    Ulysses. 

Of  Trimalchio  and  his  shrewdness.  39.3 :  ine  putatis  ilia  cena 
esse  contentum.,  quam  in  theca  repositorii  videratisf  "sic  notus 
Vlixes?".  98.5 :  remota  etiam  culcita  videt  JJlixem,  cui  vel 
esuriens  Cyclops  par  cere  potuisset  (escape  of  Ulysses  from  the 
cave  of  the  Cyclops,  of  Giton  being  tied  under  a  bed  to  escape 
the  detection  of  Eumolpus).  105.10:  miretur  nunc  aliquis  Ulixis 
nutricem  post  vicesimum  annum  cicatricem  invenisse  originis  in- 
dicem,  cum  homo  prudentissimus  confusis  omnibus  corporis  oris' 
que  lineamentis  ad  unicum  fugitivi  argumentum  (membrum 
virile)  tarn  docte  pervenerit  (Eumolpus  being  recognized  by  his 
membrum  virile  is  cited  as  another  case  of  Ulysses  being  recog- 
nized by  his  scar). 


V.  MISCELLANEOUS  AND  UNCERTAIN 


ADULTi.    Grown  up. 

Of  the  sun  in  his  zenith.     122.148:  non  salts  adulti  mansuescit 
radiis. 

ASCIAM.     Sticking  an  axe  in  the  leg. 

Of  the  trouble  brought  on  by  marriage.    74.16:  ipse  mihi  asciam 
in  cms  impegi. 

.\UDACIAM.     Boldness. 

Of  one's  self.  102.6:  quod  an  fieri  possit,  interrogate  audaciam 
tuam. 

BARBAM  AUREAM.     Having  golden  beard  like  the  gods. 

Of  having  great  power.     58.6:  aut  ego  non  me  novi,  aut  non 
deridebis,  licet  barbam  auream  habeas^ 

CAENO.     Rome  sunk  in  the  mud. 

Of  her  degredation.     119.58:  hoc  mersam  caeno  Romam. 

CARNARiUM.     Slaughter-house. 

Of  the  arena  in  a  gladiatorial  contest.     45.6:  ferrum  optimum 
daturus  est,  sine  fuga,  carnarium  in  medio. 

CLAVO.    Secure  fastening  of  a  door. 

Of  fixedness  of  purpose.     75.7:  quod  semel  destinavi,  clavo  ta- 
bulari  fixum  est. 

CODEX.     Block  of  wood. 

Of  a  woman,  "blockhead".     74.13:  at  inflat  se  tanquam  rana, 
et  in  sinum  suum  non  spuit,  codex,  non  mulier. 

CONARi.     Make  any  attempt. 

Of  sexual   intercourse,   "try  a  little".      19.4:   tres  enim   erant 
mulierculae,  si  quid  vellent  conari,  infirmissimae. 

CONSPUIT.     Spitting. 

Of  giving  kisses.     23.4:  immundissimo  me  basio  conspuit. 


72  Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius 


coNTERo.    Wearing  away. 

Of   much   kissing.     91.4:   et  perfusum    os   lacrimis   vultu   meo 
contero. 

CONTUMACEM.     Stubborn. 

Of  inactive  memhrum  virile.     132.9:  erectus  igitur  in  cubitum 
hac  fere  oratione  contumacem  vexavi. 

CORONATUM.    Crowned  with  a  cup. 

Of  wine  drunk  after  a  meat  course  at  dinner.     66.2:  habuimus 
tamen  in  primo  porcum  poculo  coronatum. 

DETERSIT.     Wiping  clean. 

Of  clearing  up  the  mind.     88.4:  ter  elleboro  animum  detersit. 
DiscoRDiA.     Discord. 

Of  a  contentious  man.     43.3 :  durae  buccae  fuit,  linguosus,  dis- 

cordia,  non  homo. 
EXPERTAM.     Having  tried  a  man. 

Of  sexual  intercourse.     127.1 :  si  non  fastidis  feminam  ornatam 

et  hoc  primu7n  anno  virum  expertam,  concilia  tibi,  o  iuvenis,  soro- 

rem. 
FULCIPEDIA.     Propfoot,  or  a  high  shoe. 

Of  Fortunata  who  has  to  lean  on  Trimalchio,  or  it  may  mean 

a  high  stepper  and  so  haughty.    75.5 :  sed  Fortuna  vetat.    ita  tibi 

videtur,  fulcipedta? 
INVENIUNT.     The  doctors  do  not  find  themselves. 

Do  not  know  their  business,  "do  not  know  where  they  are  at". 

47.2 :  nee  medici  se  inveniunt. 
LACINIAM.     Corner  of  a  membrum  virile  charm. 

Of  a  man  whose  membrum  virile  was  so  large  that  one  would 

have  thought  that  the  man  himself  was  only  a  corner  of  the 

charm.     92.9 :   habebat  enim   inguinum  pondus  tarn  grande  ut 

ipsum  hominem  laciniam  fascini  crederes. 
LORUM.    Thong  in  water. 

Of  a  man  whose  membrum  virile  is  inactive.     134.9:  nunquam 

tu  hominem  tarn  infelicem  vidisti:  lorum  in  aqua,  non  inguina 

habet. 


Metaphors  and  Word-pla^s  in  Petronius  73 

LATRO.    Robber. 

Of  one  who  injures  strangers.  107.11 :  nam  qui  ignotos  laedit, 
latro  appellatur,  qui  amicos,  paulo  minus  quam  parricida. 

Manios.    a  praenomen  related  to  "mane",  morning,  early  risers. 
Of  clever  men,  "sooners".    45.7 :  iam  Manios  aliquot  habet. 

OFFiciosAM,     Hand  ready  for  service. 

In  an  obscene  sense.  105.9:  sed  continuo  ad  inguina  mea  lumi- 
nibus  deflexis  movit  officiosam  manum. 

OPERAM  ET  suDOREM.    Losing  pains  and  sweat. 

Of  failing  to  accomplish  one's  purpose  in  sexual  intercourse. 
134.2:  tanquam  caballus  in  clivo,  et  operam  et  sudorem  perdi- 
disti. 

PARRICIDA.    Murderer. 

Of  one  who  injures  his  friends.     107.11   (s.  v.  latro). 

PRAECEPTOR.    Teacher. 

Of  the  senate.  88.9 :  ipse  senatus,  recti  bonique  praeceptor,  mille 
pondo  auri  Capitolio  promittere  solet. 

PURGAMENTUM.      Filth. 

Of  a  man,  "scum  of  the  earth".  74.9:  male  dicere  Trimalchioni 
coepit  et  purgamentum  dedecusque  praedicare. 

QUADRANTEM.     Ready  to  pick  up  a  quarter  of  an  as  from  a  dung 
heap  with  the  teeth. 
Of  doing  any  thing  to  get  money.    43.1 :  ab  asse  crevit  et  paratus 
fuit  quadrantem  de  stercore  mordicus  tollere. 

ROBUSTAM.     Strong. 

Of  real  gratification  in  lust.  127.10:  in  hoc  gramine  pariter 
compositi  mille  osculis  lusimus,  quaerentes  voluptatem  robustam. 

SCOPULUS.    Crag  of  the  pirates. 

Of  Pompey  who  broke  up  their  business.  123.240:  et  piratarum 
scopuluSj  modo  quem  ter  ovantem  luppiter  horruerat. 

SPUIT.     Spitting  upon  one's  own  bosom. 

Of  attending  to  one's  own  business.     74.13  (s.  v.  codex). 


74  Metaphors  and  Word-plaps  in  Petronius 

SUDAVIT     .     .     .     EXPUIT.     Sweating  and  spitting. 

Of  making  great  effort  in  speaking  when  one  has  nothing  to 
say.  44.9 :  cum  ageret  porro  in  foro,  sic  illius  vox  crescebat 
tanquam  tuba,     nee  sudavit  unquam  nee  expuit. 

TULISSE.     Putting  up  with  one's  self. 

Of  a  person's  age.  43.7 :  et  quot  putas  ilium  annos  secum 
tulisse? 

VERMES.     Maggots  growing  in  decayed  flesh. 

Of  certain  conditions  bringing  about  quarrels.  57.3:  non  meher- 
cules  soleo  eito  fervere,  sed  in  molle  earne  vermes  nascuntur. 

viTREA.    Broken  glass. 

Of  worthless  opinions.  10.1 :  an  videlicet  audirem  sententias, 
id  est  vitrea  fracta  et  somniorum  interpretamentaf 


VI.    OBSERVATIONS  AND  CONCLUSIONS 


Whatever  may  be  the  origin  of  figurative  language,  it  seems  to 
be  universally  true  that  the  speech  of  persons  in  the  lower  walks  of 
life  is  richest  in  the  use  of  figures.  Figures  with  the  cultured  are 
an  ornament  of  speech  and  are  often  used  with  a  view  to  securing 
greater  beauty^  elegance,  and  force  of  style;  with  the  unlettered, 
however^  figures  spring  forth  naturally  and  spontaneously,  and  are 
often  unusual  and  telling  in  effect.  Such  persons  realize  that  they 
are  speaking  in  language  other  than  literal,  but  there  is  no  apparent 
effort  on  their  part.  Some  unlettered  persons  speak  almost  entirely 
in  figures.  This  habit  may  well  arise  from  lack  of  wide  vocabulary, 
and  accordingly  few  words  have  to  express  many  thoughts.  The 
figurative  language  of  the  old-time  Southern  negro  is  a  good  example 
of  the  foregoing  principles.  Many  of  the  negroes  rarely  employ 
literal  speech.  Their  expressions  are  so  striking  and  unusual 
that  frequently  even  persons  who  have  lived  with  them  from  child- 
hood do  not  understand  their  meaning;  and  to  persons  who  do  not  know 
the  negroes,  their  manner  of  speech  is  ridiculous  and  almost  a  foreign 
language.  On  a  summer  day,  a  friend  of  the  writer  walked  into  a 
field  where  negroes  were  at  work.  One  of  them  remarked,  "Boss, 
we's  sholy  got  a  new  ingineer  today".  My  friend  did  not  know 
the  meaning  of  the  remark,  although  he  had  been  with  the  race  from 
childhood.  On  asking,  he  found  that  the  negro  was  referring  to  the 
excessive  heat  of  the  sun  and  to  the  fact  that  a  new  engineer  keeps 
his  engine  hotter  and  burns  more  coal  than  an  experienced  one.  A 
negro  in  a  Virginia  town,  who  had  lost  his  arm  in  a  railroad  accident, 
went  to  the  authorities  in  Richmond  to  ask  for  the  position  of  watch- 
man. Being  unable  to  understand  his  figurative  language  and  mis- 
placed words,  they  told  the  gentleman  who  had  come  to  intercede 
for  the  negro  to  take  that  fool  away  from  there  and  they  would  give 
him  anything  he  wanted.  He  was  appointed.  The  negro  always 
seems  surprised  that  his  language  is  not  understood,  and  after  explain- 
ing his  meaning  by  another  figure,  it  may  be,  he  will  add  with  a 
smile,    "White    folks    don't    know    much    no    how".      Sailors,    too, 


76  Metaphors  and  Word-plains  in  Petronius 


speak  largely  in  figures  that  pertain  to  the  sea.  Railroad  men  use 
railroad  terms  to  express  their  thoughts  on  other  subjects,  as  in 
Burdette's  "Brakeman  at  Church",  in  which  denominational  beliefs 
are  put  into  railroad  language.  Often  a  man's  sphere  of  labor  may 
be  determined  from  the  language  which  he  employs. 

Petronius  well  illustrates  the  frequent  use  of  figures  among  the 
humble  people.  While  some  of  his  characters  are  men  of  some  edu- 
cation, if  we  judge  from  the  language  which  Petronius  puts  into 
their  mouths,  yet  for  the  most  part  they  are  men  of  lowly  origin, 
and  many  belong  to  the  most  vulgar  element  of  that  time.  Accord- 
ingly we  find  in  Petronius  many  crude  and  original  figures ;  in  some 
passages  there  is  a  continuous  stream  of  metaphors,  at  once  the  drollest 
and  the  most  striking  in  Roman  literature. 

In  the  study  of  metaphorical  expressions,  the  question  arises  as 
to  what  extent  the  common  metaphors  of  Roman  literature  were  felt 
as  figures  by  the  Romans,  since  many  in  common  use  must  have  been 
employed  without  any  thought  of  the  underlying  figure.  Especially 
is  this  true,  it  seems  to  me,  among  the  best  Latin  writers.  But  in 
a  work  like  that  of  Petronius,  the  conversational  style  and  the  char- 
acter of  the  participants  in  the  crude  discussions,  besides  the  subject 
matter  of  their  conversations,  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  many  meta- 
phors have  their  full  force  in  Petronius,  while  with  the  writers  on 
more  refined  subjects,  they  would  not  be  felt  as  figures  by  the  writer 
or  reader. 

Again  many  words  seem  to  be  used  as  slang  terms,  so  common 
among  the  lower  classes  everywhere.  The  influence  of  these  droll 
terms,  most  of  which  are  metaphors  or  word  plays,  would  in  my 
opinion  bring  to  the  mind  of  the  reader  the  metaphorical  meaning 
of  the  common  metaphors  used  in  connection  with  them,  although 
they  may  have  lost  force  in  the  best  style. 

In  certain  cases,  a  word  that  is  very  commonly  used  in  the  figura 
tive  sense,  so  that  the  metaphor  would  not  be  usually  felt,  has  some 
closely  related  word  or  words  in  connection  with  it  that  suggest 
that  the  figure  still  has  its  original  value.  A  few  examples  illustra- 
tive of  the  point  are:  5.21.  defundes  with  flumine;  91.6.  vulnus  with 
cicatrix;  99.3.  considit  with  obsidet;   101.1.  attonitus  with  fulmen; 


Metaphors  and  Word-plaps  in  Petronius  TJ 


103.5.  exonerabat  with  gravem;  118.3.  inundata  with  flumine; 
119.32.  esurit  with  gula;  121.106.  exurit  with  flamma;  139.4.  extin- 
xeris  with  ignem;  and  many  others.  If  these  examples  mean  any- 
thing at  all,  they  show  that  some  of  the  common  metaphors  had 
such  force,  unintentionally,  it  may  be,  in  the  mind  of  the  writer  that 
they  demanded  the  additional  word  or  words  to  give  full  expression 
to  the  thought.  We  may  fairly  infer  also  from  these  examples  that 
many  metaphors  in  common  use  were  felt  as  figures,  in  Petronius  at 
least,  though  no  additional  word  was  used  to  suggest  it. 

Again  if  a  common  metaphor  occurs  among  a  group  of  figures 
from  several  different  spheres,  it  is  very  probable  that  it  would  be 
felt  along  with  the  rest.  There  are  many  examples;  two  are  given 
to  show  what  is  meant:  57.1.  excanduit;  58.1.  effudit.  Chapters 
57  and  58  are  made  up  of  slang,  bold  figures,  and  abusive  language, 
all  of  which  would  tend  to  enliven  any  deadness  in  such  common 
metaphors  as  the  two  selected. 

It  must  be  noted  that  there  is  an  air  of  pretence  throughout  the 
Satires,  men  in  the  lower  walks  of  life  posing  as  those  of  higher 
rank,  and  this  fact  leads  one  to  expect  much  figurative  language  in 
their  conscious  attempt  to  appear  as  people  of  quality.  The  negro 
never  uses  so  many  figures  as  when  he  is  putting  on  airs  and  posing 
as  "quality".  This  may  account  for  the  coinage  by  Petronius  of  so 
many  words,  in  which  we  find  so  many  striking  metaphors.  Such  an 
atmosphere  also  tends  to  give  old  figures  their  full  force.  In  all 
of  this  the  cleverness  of  Petronius  is  clearly  seen. 

Even  in  the  Latin  of  the  best  writers,  many  of  the  ordinary  figures 
must  have  been  felt  as  such  by  the  Romans,  if  we  may  judge  the 
Latin  by  our  own  language.  One  illustration  will  show  my  meaning. 
When  we  speak  of  "burning  words",  there  seems  to  me  to  be  a  flashlight 
picture,  so  to  speak,  of  an  actual  "burning"  before  the  transfer  of  the 
idea  to  "words".  We  have  of  course  many  dead  metaphors,  but  many 
of  the  so-called  dead  ones  are,  in  my  opinion,  very  lively  corpses. 
While  the  figures  may  not  be  prominent  in  our  minds,  both  the 
speaker  and  the  listener  feel,  in  an  obscure  way,  it  may  be,  the  orig- 
inal force  of  the  words,  and  the  figure  becomes  prominent  in  our 
minds  the  moment  our  attention  is  called  to  it  in  any  way.     May 


78  Metaphors  and  Word-pla^s  in  Petronius 


we  not  with  a  degree  of  certainty  class  the  ancients  with  ourselves 
in  this  respect?  Some  of  the  most  beautiful  and  striking  passages  in 
Roman  literature,  and  in  the  Greek  as  well,  would  lose  much  of  their 
force,  if  we  supposed  that  the  Greeks  and  Romans  no  longer  had 
an  appreciation  of  a  figurative  expression  as  such,  just  because  it 
happened  to  be  very  commonly  used.  Can  we  imagine  that  a  Greek 
would  often  fail  to  feel  the  force  of  a  figure  referring  to  the  sea, 
the  race-course  or  the  athletic  contests?  With  equal  certainty  we 
may  conclude  that  the  Romans  felt  the  figures  referring  to  warfare, 
the  gladiatorial  contests,  and  forensic  proceedings.  Petronius  exempli- 
fies this  by  many  striking  metaphors.  Especially  noticeable  are  those 
of  warfare  and  gladiatorial  contests,  used  in  an  obscene  sense.  In 
some  cases  the  use  of  three  or  four  words  leaves  no  doubt  that 
Petroniuus  had  the  figure  in  mind. 

With  the  foregoing  points  in  mind,  some  metaphors  have  been 
enumerated  which  in  other  surroundings  might  not  be  felt  as  figures. 
Most  of  them  however  are  so  forceful  and  striking  that  they  leave 
no  doubt  in  the  reader's  mind  that,  while  spoken  with  a  naturalness 
that  is  characteristic  of  the  common  folk,  they  have  a  force  and  a 
drollness  that  only  such  people  can  give  to  such  language. 

Sometimes  the  language  and  figures  of  an  author  are  of  a  nature 
that  we  may  judge  of  his  surroundings  and  those  of  his  characters 
with  some  degree  of  accuracy.  Such  conclusions  however  are  often 
very  treacherous.  After  careful  study,  the  writer  can  see  nothing 
positive  in  the  metaphors  of  Petronius  that  will  strengthen  the  gen- 
erally accepted  view  that  the  author  of  the  romance  is  the  Petronius 
of  Nero's  time,  or  that  will  throw  light  on  the  mooted  questions  of 
the  time  and  place  of  the  scenes  depicted  in  the  Satirae.  Indeed 
Petronius  indentifies  himself  so  completely  with  his  characters  that 
one  may  hardly  hope  to  reach  any  definite  conclusions  along  this  line. 

The  range  of  metaphorical  usage  in  Petronius  is  quite  wide.  Other 
figures  are  more  limited  in  scope.  Some  of  the  most  forceful  meta- 
phors are  taken  from  warfare,  the  gladiatorial  contests,  and  heat 
and  cold.  Many  of  the  metaphors  are  rare,  and  some  are  found  only 
in  Petronius. 

It  is  quite  noticeable  that  the  latter  part  of  the  romance  is  more 


Metaphors  and  Word-plays  in  Petronius  79 


obscene  than  the  first  part,  and  that  the  figures,  as  a  rule,  are  less 
curious  and  striking.  For  this  fact  no  definite  explanation  can  be 
offered  by  the  writer.  The  lack  of  figures  may  be  due  to  the  absence 
of  Trimalchio  and  his  crowd  from  this  part  of  the  work,  for  their 
speech  is  richest  in  crude  and  unusual  metaphors.  But  this  portion 
of  Petronius  is  so  fragmentary  that  it  is  difficult  and  unsatisfactory 
to  study  from  any  point  of  view. 

One  can  easily  see  in  the  foregoing  pages  close  resemblances  to 
many  of  our  English  expressions.  The  vulgar  way  of  putting  ideas 
which  we  call  slang  has  a  marked  similarity  to  many  of  the  terms  in 
Petronius.  Many  of  these  expressions  do  not  occur  outside  of  Petro- 
nius. They  may  have  been  current  among  the  lower  classes  in  con- 
versation, but  they  do  not  appear  in  literature;  we  have,  however, 
very  little  of  the  language  of  the  vulgar  element  outside  of  the  plays 
of  Plautus.  If  the  lower  classes  of  the  Romans  were  like  our  lower 
classes  in  the  use  of  slang,  we  may  conclude  with  a  degree  of  cer- 
tainty that  there  is  much  slang  in  the  Satirae,  and  that  Petronius, 
as  a  student  of  human  nature,  purposely  put  such  words  into  the 
mouths  of  his  characters.  Because  of  this  similarity  of  human  nature, 
we  today  recognize  the  crude  and  unexpected  turns  that  many  of 
the  slang  terms  take,  and  we  laugh  just  as  heartily  at  the  rare  and 
racy  jokes,  as  the  readers  of  Petronius  did  in  the  days  of  long  ago. 
Many  of  the  phrases  have  so  modern  a  ring  that  one  can  hardly 
believe  that  up-to-date  slang  terms  were  used  by  the  Romans  centuries 
ago. 

In  conclusion,  this  medley  of  stories  so  cleverly  told  impresses  one 
as  the  adventures  of  a  Baron  Munchausen.  Much  of  it  is  purposely 
exaggerated  for  effect.  A  good  story  which  no  one  is  expected  to 
believe  must  be  thus  exaggerated,  so  that  persons  with  a  sense  of 
humor  listen  and  smile  and  are  entertained,  knowing  that  there  is  no 
truth  in  it.  Much  of  the  romance  is  obscene  in  the  extreme,  but  not 
more  disgustingly  so  than  many  of  the  Canterbury  Tales. 


U.C.  BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


